Based on a recent story by The Guardian, people living with lung cancer and ovarian cancer may soon have access to a new treatment option. The goal of the new treatment is to give patients with advanced stages of either cancer more time with their families and loved ones. In some cases the treatment was able to extend the life of patients by nearly six months when other options had failed. Keep reading to learn more, or follow the original story here for more information.
What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer which develops in the female reproductive system. While it is generally uncommon, women with a mutation in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. The classifications of ovarian cancer largely depend on the region of the reproductive system affected, and where the cancer has spread.
Common symptoms of ovarian cancer include bloating, pelvic pain, abdominal swelling, loss of appetite, and complications with the urinary system. Barring cases involving the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, it is unclear what causes ovarian cancer at this time.
Treatments for ovarian cancer often include chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgical removal (of ovaries, Fallopian tubes, uterus, nearby lymph nodes, and omentum depending on the spread of cancer). Click here to learn more about ovarian cancer.
Beating the Odds
The new treatment being tested is a combination of a targeted drug and a form of chemotherapy. Together, vistusertib and paclitaxel chemotherapy are able to stop cancer from growing for almost six months. In some cases, the new treatment was even able to shrink tumors. Researchers at the London research center leading the study describe the treatment as showing promise.
The phase I trial for this treatment primarily intended to determine its safety. 25 women with ovarian cancer received the combination treatment. Other treatment options had already failed. After receiving treatment, the patients experienced a stop in their cancer progression for 5.8 months. In about half of the cases, tumor size reduced by about 30%.
Researchers developed this combination by observing chemotherapy resistant ovarian cancer. These types of cells, researchers found, have unusually high levels of a molecule called p-S6K. Vistusertib affects proteins which enable p-S6K and in combination with specific forms of chemotherapy this stops the cancer cells from growing.
A phase II trial is expected to be completed sometime in the coming year. This study plans to include 140 women with relapsed ovarian cancer. The goal is to determine how effective this new line of treatment is compared to traditional chemotherapy.
