GYNECOLOGIC CANCERS

Platinum-Resistant Advanced Ovarian Cancer

Overtreating men 70 years or older with prostate cancer cost Medicare more than $1.2 billion from 2004 to 2007, according to the results of a retrospective study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare linked database.

Identifying the inflamed tumors that are most likely to respond favorably to immunotherapeutics and, conversely, finding ways to treat noninflamed tumors are essential for successful application of immunotherapy in endometrial cancer, according to a presentation at the 2019 Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Winter Meeting.

The phase III FORWARD I trial fell short of its primary endpoint, as findings showed the antibody-drug conjugate mirvetuximab soravtansine did not result in a progression-free survival improvement compared with chemotherapy in patients with folate receptor alpha–positive, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and in an overall patient population.

According to Huma Q. Rana, MD, genetic testing provides valuable benefit in the treatment landscape of gynecologic cancers. It can inform physicians of the individual and familial risk for developing a malignancy, alert patients of potential screening and preventative measures, and guide selection of potential targeted therapies.

Advances in checkpoint inhibitor therapy have gained speed in cancer care; however, ovarian cancer has yet to see any approved indications for immunotherapy agents, said Lana E. Kandalaft, PharmD, PhD, to an audience at the European Society for Medical Oncology 2018 Immuno-Oncology Congress.

Data from a retrospective study suggests an adjuvant gastrointestinal-based chemotherapy regimen is more beneficial than one that is gynecologic-based in patients with mucinous ovarian cancer, said Katherine C. Kurnit, MD.

In an interview with <em>Targeted Oncology</em>&nbsp;during the 2019 SGO Annual Winter Meeting, Shannon Westin, MD, discussed the advances seen with PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer, novel investigational agents, and the importance of molecular testing.

A look back at all the&nbsp;FDA news&nbsp;in oncology from the month of&nbsp;January 2019, including several new approvals, breakthrough therapy designations, and a partial clinical hold.

Targeted therapy has effectively been established as an option for patients with ovarian cancers. However, beyond PARP inhibition in the <em>BRCA</em>-mutated or homologous recombination deficient population, questions remain about how to best treat these patients,&nbsp;Ramez N. Eskander, MD, said at the 2019 SGO Annual Winter Meeting.

Robert Coleman, MD,&nbsp;highlights recent advances made in gynecologic cancers and provide insight into ongoing research to move the needle forward.

Matthew Carlson, MD, discusses his take home message for managing symptoms of chemotherapy in patients with gynecologic cancers.