Authors: Alfonso SánchezMuñoz Elisabeth PérezRuiz César Mendiola Fernández Emilio Alba Conejo Antonio GonzálezMartín
Publish Date: 2009/10/04
Volume: 11, Issue: 9, Pages: 589-595
Abstract
During the last decade we have assisted in the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of ovarian cancer based on the best knowledge of molecular biology One of the most promising strategies under investigation is antiangiogenic therapy Bevacizumab is a monoclonal humanised antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF which has shown antitumour activity in ovarian cancer in preclinical models as well as in clinical trials both in monotherapy and in combination with other therapies Currently ongoing phase III trials are testing bevacizumab as a frontline therapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel Bevacizumab has been generally well tolerated with mild frequent toxicities proteinuria hypertension and bleeding However the drug may result in other uncommon but potentially lifethreatening side effects such as arterial thromboembolism wound healing complications and gastrointestinal perforation or fistulae which should be considered when the drug is administered Other new therapeutic antiangiogenic strategies that include smallmolecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors antibodies neutralising the VEGF receptor VEGFR and soluble VEGFR hybrids VEGF Trap are being investigated with promising early results
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