According to a story from news-medical.net, a recent study suggests that a class of drugs called BRAF inhibitors could be an effective treatment option for ovarian cancer patients who carry a mutation in the BRAF gene. These are considered targeted therapies in that they block the activity of a specific gene. These drugs are occasionally used for treating the skin cancer melanoma, as many patients also carry BRAF mutations.
About Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is any cancer that originates on or within the ovaries. There are a variety of potential risk factors for this type of cancer. Women who have spent a longer time ovulating are at increased risk, as are women who have not had children. Fertility medication may increase risk, but recent findings have cast some doubt; other risks include endometriosis, genetics (BRCA mutations), exposure to certain chemicals, and smoking. Symptoms of ovarian cancer include pelvic pain, bloating, loss of appetite, and abdominal swelling. The cancer rarely produces distinct symptoms in its early stages. A variety of treatment approaches are utilized for ovarian cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The five year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 45 percent in the US. To learn more about ovarian cancer, click here.
About The Study
BRAF mutations are most frequent in a rare type of ovarian cancer called low-grade serous cancer, which often appears in younger women. A study of nine women with this type showed that four of them relapsed after receiving the standard ovarian cancer treatment. Of these four, two went into a clinical trial testing BRAF inhibitors, and two receiving an escalated dose of the standard treatment. Sadly, the women who received the standard treatment ultimately died; the women who participated in the clinical trial responded well to BRAF inhibitors and achieved long lasting remission.
More Targeted Treatments Needed
There are many different kinds of cancerous tumors that affect the ovaries, but they are often treated very similarly. This is a significant weakness because not all ovarian cancer types respond well to the conventional treatment. The results of this study highlight why more specialized, targeted treatments are needed that exploit the composition of each different type.
You can check out the original study here.
