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Gynecologic Oncology

The Future of Targeted Therapies in Ovarian Cancer

The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom

Key Words. Ovarian cancer • Targeted therapy • VEGF inhibitors • PARP inhibitors

Correspondence: Martin Gore, Ph.D., F.R.C.P., The Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JJ, United Kingdom. Telephone: 44-207-808-2198; Fax: 44-207-808-2475; e-mail: martin.gore{at}rmh.nhs.uk

Received January 22, 2009; accepted for publication June 12, 2009; first published online in THE ONCOLOGIST Express on July 10, 2009.

Disclosures: Susana Banerjee: None; Martin Gore: Consultant/advisory role: Roche, Pfizer, Bayer; Honoraria: Roche, Pfizer, Bayer.

The content of this article has been reviewed by independent peer reviewers to ensure that it is balanced, objective, and free from commercial bias. No financial relationships relevant to the content of this article have been disclosed by the independent peer reviewers.

Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecological malignancy and the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer. Most women present with advanced disease with little prospect for cure. There have been some advances in surgical and chemotherapeutic strategies, but these approaches have led to only minor improvements in outcome. There remains a significant risk for recurrence and resistance to therapy, and hence there is a need to improve upon the current treatment options. Molecularly directed therapy aims to target tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment by blocking specific molecular changes in the cancer. The most promising agents so far are the antiangiogenic agents and polyadenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase inhibitors. This article reviews the various targeted therapeutic approaches under clinical investigation in ovarian cancer and the challenges facing their future success in the clinic.