Targeted and Immunotherapies
Read about cancer treatment options listed by gene mutation, type of cancer and type of treatment.Stay up to date on research and information
Sign Up for FORCE NewslettersTargeted and immunotherapies for , ovarian and primary peritoneal cancer
This section covers the following topics:
Immunotherapies
Immunotherapies are cancer treatments that hlep the body’s immune system detect and attack cancer cells. There are several different categories of immunotherapies.
- Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is known as an immune checkpoint inhibitor. approved for treatment of patients with cancer that tests . Although this is not common in ovarian cancer, it is often seen in people with a gene mutation who develop cancer.
Targeted therapies
Targeted therapies are designed to attack or kill cancer cells, while sparing normal cells as much as possible. These therapies are often designed to target abnormal proteins, receptors or genes that are found in high quantities in cancer cells or the surrounding tissue.
Two types of targeted therapies are commonly used to treat advanced ovarian cancer:
- Avastin (bevacizumab)
- PARP inhibitors
Avastin
Avastin is a that works by cutting off the blood supply to the cancer. It may be given as treatment in combination with chemotherapy, or as after treatment alone or in combination with Lynparza.
PARP inhibitors
PARP inhibitors work by blocking a protein used by cells to repair damaged . They were initially developed to treat cancers in people with an inherited gene mutation or mutation. Three PARP inhibitors have been approved for treating ovarian cancer:
- Lynparza ()
- ()
- ()
PARP inhibitors have received approval for after chemotherapy treatment for advanced ovarian cancer to keep the cancer from coming back or growing:
- Lynparza, and have all been approved for after chemotherapy. See the table below for more information about the indication for each drug.
Research is ongoing to learn if PARP inhibitors are also affective for treating ovarian cancer in other situations, including:
- people with an in a different gene that repairs damage (for example: , , , ).
- people who do not have an inherited gene mutation, but tumor testing found an acquired tumor mutation in a gene that repairs damage.
- in combination with or other agents.
Table of targeted and immunotherapies for , ovarian and primary peritoneal cancer
Name of drug | Type of agent | Line of therapy | Indication | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Avastin (bevacizumab) |
Monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) | maintenance | Combined with Lynparza () for platinum-sensitive cancer | () testing |
Avastin (bevacizumab) |
Monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) | Combined with chemotherapy, followed by Avastin as a single agent following initial surgical resection | No required | |
Avastin (bevacizumab) |
Monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) | Second or third-line | Combined with chemotherapy for platinum-resistant recurrent disease | No required |
Avastin (bevacizumab) |
Monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) | Second-line or later | Combined with chemotherapy, followed by Avastin as a single agent, for platinum-sensitive recurrent diesase | No required |
Lynparza () |
maintenance | For women who had a complete or partial response to platinum chemotherapy | Inherited or acquired (tumor) mutation in or | |
Lynparza () |
maintenance | Combined with Avastin (bevacuzimab) for women who had a complete or partial response to platinum chemotherapy | () testing |
|
maintenance | For women who had a complete or partial response to platinum chemotherapy | No inherited or acquired mutation or other tumor biomarker needed |
||
Lynparza
|
Second-line or later maintenance | For platinum-sensitive or partially sensitive recurrent cancer | No inherited or acquired mutation or other tumor biomarker needed |
|
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) | Immune checkpoint inhibitor | or unresectable | For treatment of that have progressed after treatment and for which there are no other treatment options | High (MSI-H) or () |
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) | Immune checkpoint inhibitor | or unresectable | For the treatment of that have progressed after treatment and for which there are no other treatment options | High (TMB-H) |
The following studies are looking at treatment for people with advanced .
- NCT05252390: NUV-868 Alone and in Combination With PARP Inhibitors in Patients With Advanced .This study will test the safety and effectiveness of the experimental drug NUV-868 alone and combined with a in people with advanced . This study is open to people whose cancer stopped responding or progressed on PARP inhibitors.
- NCT02264678: Ascending Doses of Ceralasertib in Combination With Chemotherapy and/or Novel Anti Cancer Agents. This is a study of ceralasertib administered orally in combination with chemotherapy regimens and/or novel anticancer agents to patients with advanced cancer. The study is enrolling people with inherited mutations, including , , , , , and people with tumors that are HRD-positive.
- NCT04644068: Study of AZD5305 as Monotherapy and in Combination With Anti-cancer Agents in Patients With Advanced Solid Malignancies (PETRA). This research is designed to learn whether treatment with a new , AZD5305, used alone or in combination with anti-cancer agents is safe, tolerable and has anti-cancer activity in patients with advanced . The study is open to people who have previously been treated with PARP inhibitors.
- NCT04267939: ATR Inhibitor Plus Study in Advanced and Ovarian Cancer. This study will look at how well people with advanced respond to treatment with the BAY1895344 in combination with the . This study is open to people with inherited mutations in , , and other genes. Contact the study coordinator for information about eligibility for people with mutations in other genes.
- NCT04657068: Treatment with ATR Inhibitor for Advanced or Solid Tumors. This study will look at how well a new oral known as an ATR inhibitor works on advanced or with mutations in genes that are linked to damage repair. This study is open to people who have an inherited or acquired or mutation or whose tumors are HRD-positive. This study is open to people whose cancer stopped responding or progressed on PARP inhibitors.
The following are studies looking at PARP inhibitors and similar agents for treating people with ovarian cancer.
- NCT03462342 Combination ATR inhibitor and in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer (CAPRI). This study will look at how well patients with recurrent ovarian cancer respond to treatment with a known as an ATR inhibitor when combined with a .
- NCT04586335: Study of CYH33 in Combination With an Oral in Patients With Advanced . The purpose of this study is to assess the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of the CYH33 in combination with in patients who have DDR gene mutations and/or PIK3CA mutations, have progressed on a prior and those with recurrent high grade serous ovarian, or primary peritoneal cancer who are platinum resistant or refractory.
- NCT03579316: Adavosertib With or Without in Treating Patients With Recurrent Ovarian, Primary Peritoneal, or Cancer. This studies how well adavosertib with or without work in patients with ovarian cancer that has come back (recurrent).
- NCT04267939: ATR Inhibitor Plus Study in Advanced and Ovarian Cancer. This study will look at how well people with advanced ovarian cancer or other respond to treatment with the BAY1895344 in combination with the . This study is open to people whose ovarian cancer progressed on a .