GYNECOLOGIC CANCERS

Mirvetuximab soravtansine, an antibody-drug conjugate, led to a favorable benefit-risk profile in patients with folate receptor alpha–positive ovarian cancer according to a comprehensive analysis of the phase III FORWARD trial.

In new preclinical data, the combination of the PARP inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza) and the pan-HER TKI neratinib (Nerlynx) was found to be highly synergistic in HER2-positive uterine serous carcinoma, according to lead study author Ghanshyam Yadav, MD.

A new phase III trial has demonstrated that a novel extended-release formulation of anagrelide (Thromboreductin) is noninferior to immediate-release anagrelide in reducing platelet counts in patients with essential thrombocythemia.

Analyses from the phase III ARIEL3 trial presented during the 2019 Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting showed that rucaparib is safe and effective as a maintenance therapy across all subgroups of patients.

Before a community oncology practice considers getting involved in clinical trials research, there are many factorsto consider. Perhaps foremost is the fact that cancer clinical trials provide the evidence base for new advances in oncology. 

Artificial intelligence has made inroads in many industries—banking, finance, security—but its adoption in healthcare has been lagging and real-world clinical implementation has yet to become a reality. Nonetheless, proponents say it is only a matter of time and pilot programs are starting to yield some practical results. 

In an interview with&nbsp;<em>Targeted Oncology, </em>David O&rsquo;Malley, MD, discussed the updates with bevacizumab and PARP inhibitors as a treatment and maintenance therapy option for patients with ovarian cancer and recurrent disease. He also discussed considerations for selecting the right agent for the right patient.

Gynecologic oncology experts reflect on some of the most significant data presented during the 2019 SGO Annual Meeting, which underscored how the field is moving toward a precision medicine approach.

A pivotal phase III INNOVATE-3 trial investigating the efficacy of tumor-treating fields (TTFields; Optune) combined with paclitaxel in patients with recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer has been initiated, according to Novocure, the company developing the device.

According to results from the ongoing phase I/II GARNET trial, dostarlimab induced an overall response rate of nearly 30% in patients with recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer. Results presented at the 2019 SGO Annual Meeting also demonstrated durable responses in both patients with&nbsp;microsatellite instability-high and microsatellite stable tumors.

David Cibula, MD,&nbsp;highlights the phase II data on DCVAC/OvCA in combination with chemotherapy for patients with relapsed, platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, and how it could impact future treatment approaches for this population.

The phase III JAVELIN Ovarian PARP 100 study has been discontinued,&nbsp;according to Merck KGaA and Pfizer, the companies that collaborated on the trial.^&nbsp;The ongoing trial was investigating the efficacy and safety&nbsp;of avelumab in combination with chemotherapy followed by maintenance avelumab in combination with talazoparib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic ovarian cancer.

Olaparib combined with neratinib may be a novel treatment option for patients with&nbsp;HER2-positive, homologous recombination&ndash;proficient ovarian cancer tumors that are resistant to chemotherapy, preclinical findings presented during the&nbsp;2019 SGO Annual Meeting showed.<br /> &nbsp;

Neratinib demonstrated durable responses and disease control and a manageable safety profile in patients with metastatic&nbsp;<em>HER2</em>-mutant cervical cancer, according to results from the ongoing phase II SUMMIT basket trial.

Women with recurrent ovarian cancer treated with the combination of&nbsp;pembrolizumab, bevacizumab, and metronomic cyclophosphamide had a 95% disease control rate and a 40% overall response rate, according to findings from an&nbsp;open-label phase II study presented during the&nbsp;2019 SGO Annual Meeting.

Activity was seen with lenvatinib plus a weekly dose of paclitaxel in patients with recurrent endometrial and platinum-resistant epitherlial ovarian cancer, according to a presentation at the 50th SGO Annual Meeting. The combination resulted in a 65% overall response rate in a phase I trial.

Patients with high-risk ovarian cancer being treated with niraparib experienced a decrease in adverse events when treated with a&nbsp;200- or 300-mg individualized starting dose based on bodyweight and platelet count compared with patients who received a fixed starting dose of 300 mg, according to data from a recent analysis of the ongoing&nbsp;ENGOT-OV26/PRIMA study.

Repeated use of PARP inhibitors may be a beneficial treatment strategy in the future for women with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, according to the&nbsp;results of a retrospective, multi-institutional study presented at the 2019 SGO Annual Meeting. The findings suggested that prior exposure to PARP inhibition may not lead to resistance, which could lead to increased use of repeat PARP treatment going forward.&nbsp;

Treatment with maintenance niraparib led to extended progression-free survival time in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer without the patients experiencing symptoms or toxicity compared with placebo, according to results of an analysis from the phase III ENGOT-OV16/NOVA trial. In patients with&nbsp;germline <em>BRCA</em>-mutated disease, the benefit was increased 4-fold and in patients&nbsp;non&ndash;germline&nbsp;<em>BRCA</em>-mutated ovarian cancer the benefit was increased 2-fold.&nbsp;

Ahead of the 50th Annual SGO Meeting, Shannon Westin, MD discussed the key takeaways from a case chat and highlighted some data she is looking forward to at the meeting for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. She also highlighted other data that will play an important part in this treatment landscape and for patients with recurrent cervical cancer.

The healthcare community is still awaiting a response from the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services to the opposition of the agency&rsquo;s proposal to substantially revise the Medicare Part D protected drug classes.

Advanced Ovarian Cancer