Predicting Response to Anthracyclines in Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

(1) Background: Anthracyclines are intriguing drugs, representing one of the cornerstones of both first and subsequent-lines of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer (OC). Their efficacy and mechanisms of action are related to the hot topics of OC clinical research, such as BRCA status and immunotherapy. Prediction of response to anthracyclines is challenging and no markers can predict certain therapeutic success. The current narrative review provides a summary of the clinical and biological mechanisms involved in the response to anthracyclines. (2) Methods: A MEDLINE search of the literature was performed, focusing on papers published in the last two decades. (3) Results and Conclusions: BRCA mutated tumors seem to show a higher response to anthracyclines compared to sporadic tumors and the severity of hand–foot syndrome and mucositis may be a predictive marker of PLD efficacy. CA125 can be a misleading marker of clinical response during treatment with anthracyclines, the response of which also appears to depend on OC histology. Immunochemistry, in particular HER-2 expression, could be of some help in predicting the response to such drugs, and high levels of mutated p53 appear after exposure to anthracyclines and impair their antitumor effect. Finally, organoids from OC are promising for drug testing and prediction of response to chemotherapy.

Effective sequential combined therapy with carboplatin and a CDC7 inhibitor in ovarian cancer

“…The PFI correlates with the efficacy of subsequent therapy for platinum-refractory or platinum-resistant ovarian cancer [52] . The PFI helps guide individualized treatment to optimize the survival benefit for OC patients according to guidelines [53] . In our study, we found that the CDC7 inhibitor XL413 delayed tumor recurrence after carboplatin treatment, which means that this new combination therapy may prolong the PFI, thus creating an opportunity for platinum-based chemotherapy for recurrent OC patients.…”