Ovarian cancer treatment discovery in phase 3 trial
Ovarian cancer treatment discovery in phase 3 trial
19 Jun 2014
Doctors report that a new ovarian cancer treatment can improve response rates, prolong time before cancer recurs, and even improve survival, in a phase 3 trial.
In particular, researchers at the University of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix reported that a new treatment for ovarian cancer can improve response rates (increase the rate of tumor shrinkage) and prolong the time until cancers recur. In addition, this breakthrough showed a trend in improving survival although these data are not yet mature.
Details about the drug's function
The treatment is the drug Trebananib, a first-in-class peptide-Fc fusion protein (or peptibody) that targets angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels into cancerous tumors) by inhibiting the binding of both angiopoietin 1 and 2 to the Tie2 receptor. This is very different mechanism of action than other agents that also effect angiogenesis by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) such as bevacizumab.
Trebananib does not increase the risks of hypertension (high blood pressure) and bowel perforation like bevaciuzmab, but still has a similar impact on tumor shrinkage and delaying cancer progression.
Phase 3 clinical trial with 919 women with recurrent ovarian cancer
Neither agent has shown a definitive increase in survival at this point. "TRINOVA-1" was a randomized prospective phase 3 clinical trial that added trebananib or placebo to standard chemotherapy (weekly paclitaxel) among 919 women with recurrent ovarian cancer patient from 179 sites in 32 countries.
The trial was run by Professor Bradley J. Monk MD who directs the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph's in Phoenix and sponsored by Amgen. Dr. Monk's site also was the largest enrolling site in Arizona.
"This is an exciting new targeted medication in treating recurrent ovarian cancer. Recurrent ovarian cancer is almost always fatal and new treatments are desperately needed," said Dr. Monk. "TRINOVA-1 also showed that angiogenesis is a complex process in oncology and many new targets like angiopoietin 1/2 will allow us to more effectively inhibit the growth of new blood vessels that are necessary for cancer growth, metastases and progression. If we can stop cancers from growing by choking off their blood supply, we can help our patients feel better and live longer."
Source: Science Daily