Updates on Anti-Cancer Therapy in Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Phase II trials of the VEGF-Trap agent aflibercept demonstrate its effectiveness in reducing malignant ascites. One randomized, placebo-controlled phase II study enrolled fifty-five women with advanced ovarian cancer and recurrent malignant ascites, and found women receiving aflibercept averaged thirty-one days, until repeat paracentesis, compared to eight days which in the placebo group. Fatal bowel perforations occurred in three patients receiving aflibercept, and only in one placebo group patient, demonstrating a notable clinical risk with VEGF-Trap in patients with advanced ovarian cancer [7]. Another phase II study also found benefit from aflibercept in the reduction of malignant ascites, with a 450% increase in the time to repeat paracentesis, when compared to the baseline interval. This study reports that the safety profile of aflibercept is consistent with that of