The contribution of catumaxomab in the treatment of malignant ascites in patients with ovarian cancer: a review of the literature

Abstract

The approval of the first specific drug catumaxomab for the treatment of malignant ascites is the subject of this review. This trifunctional antibody is known to kill EpCAM-positive tumor cells and therefore attacks the primary cause of malignant ascites formation in the peritoneal cavity. Until today catumaxomab is the only EpCam-targeted antibody approved by the European Medicines Agency. Ovarian cancer is caused by epithelial tumors cells which overexpress epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). The existing literature concerning the use of catumaxomab for the treatment of malignant ascites associated with ovarian cancer until today is reported in this article. It is very encouraging that different prospective studies from diverse scientific teams recently presented positive results concerning the efficacy and the safety of catumaxomab in the treatment of malignant ascites in patients with ovarian cancer. A case of a patient with ovarian cancer FIGO IIIc is also referred in this article. A complete remission and stable disease was found after 4 i.p. infusions of catumaxomab.

Simultaneous targeting of CD44 and EpCAM with a bispecific aptamer effectively inhibits intraperitoneal ovarian cancer growth

“…Epithelial cell adhesion molecules (EpCAM), a glycosylated membrane protein, is overexpressed in over 70% OC and its level is closely associated with malignant ascites, chemoresistance, and decreased survival rate in OC patients 4. Although normal epithelial tissues usually express EpCAM, its expression in the peritoneal cavity appears to be tumor specific because mesothelial cells in the abdominal cavity are negative for EpCAM expression 5, 6.…”

Quantum dot-based multiplexed imaging in malignant ascites: a new model for malignant ascites classification

“…In this regard, previous studies were mostly focused on searching for the optimal chemotherapy regimens against MA, including the paclitaxel with tegafur regimen, the combined intraperitoneal recombinant human endostatin and chemotherapy regimen, the catumaxomab regimen, the cediranib regimen, immunotherapy, and others. [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] However, the rate of complete remission with these regimens remains less than 30%.…”

Uterine Prolapsus Case at Second Trimester of Pregnancy

“…Fakat uterin prolapsusun distosiye neden olabileceği akıldan çıkarılmamalıdır. 3 Ayrıca serviksin prolapsus nedeni ile skarlaşması vajinal doğum sırasında servikal kesi gerektirebilir ya da uzamış ve aşırı ödem gelişmiş servikste laserasyon oluşabilir. Servikal distosiyi önlemek için topikal magnezyum solüsyonları kullanılabilir.…”

“…1 Gebelerde servikal kuruluk ve ülserasyon, üriner retansiyon, üriner yol enfeksiyonu, abortus, erken doğum, fetal ölüm ve hatta maternal sepsise yol açabilmektedir. 2,3 Uterin prolapsus hastalarında tedavi gebelik haftası ve prolapsusun derecesine göre belirlenmelidir. Hastada serviksin ülserasyonunu ve akut üriner retansiyonu engellemek için manuel olarak doğal yerine itme ya da peser yardımı ile redüksiyon yapılabilir.…”