Targeted Oncology recently published a report citing a promising class of drugs to treat recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC), often associated with a poor prognosis.
PROC eventually occurs to a large majority of females in the advanced stages of ovarian cancer. Patients will usually be responsive to platinum-based chemotherapy. This is usually followed by a period of remission.
However, most patients will relapse and eventually develop resistance as a result of subsequent treatments.
Although the options for treatment of PROC are limited, clinical trials are being conducted on potentially effective drugs called antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
About ADCs
Cytotoxic drugs are delivered by ADCs containing chemicals that are toxic to cells. They are joined to monoclonal antibodies. The goal is to stimulate the patient’s immune system to fight against cancer cells.
The three primary components that form ADCs are:
- An antibody that targets an antigen on the surface of a cancer cell specific to the disease
- A cytotoxic payload
- A connecting linker
The linker connects the antibody and the payload. The payloads are found to have greater potency than standard cytotoxics.
Various anti-cancer agents have been utilized as ADC payloads. The therapeutic effect of ADCs includes killing cancer cells surrounding a tumor.
Six other ADCs have received FDA approval, of which three treat solid tumors. FolRa, a cell surface glycoprotein, is in that group.
A Phase 3 clinical trial is recruiting PROC patients. The drug is mirvetuximab soravtansine. Another Phase 3 clinical trial is also investigating mirvetuximab soravtansine in PROC patients with FolRa.
Lastly, the FORWARD II trial is investigating mirvetuximab soravtansine in combination with bevacizumab in treating platinum-sensitive patients.
The full report is available here.
Looking Forward
Although PROC remains challenging, ADCs plus current therapies offer PROC patients improved outcomes.
