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) |
Related Resources
The following organizations have resources related to ovarian cancer.
- FORCE resources:
- Information: Ovarian cancer screening and prevention
- Information: Ovarian cancer treatment
- Personalized portal: Ovarian cancer
- XRAY category: Ovarian cancer
- Video: What's new in gynecologic cancer screening and prevention?
- Video: What's new in gynecologic cancer treatment?
- Video: Options for Ovarian Cancer
- Video playlist: Ovarian cancer
- Blogs: Ovarian cancer
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines for Patients: Ovarian Cancer
- National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
- Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance
- Clearity Foundation
Paying For Care
Paying for testing
Insurance companies are required to cover the costs for cancer treatment. Health plans may vary on the amount of out-of-pocket costs and coverage for specific doctors, facilities, tests or treatments. Your doctor's office and treating hospital should disclose how much your treatment may cost you and work with you on a plan to cover the cost of your care.
Medicare will cover the cost for genetic testing and testing for people who meet certain criteria. Medicare coverage varies based on where you live. Visit this site to find and contact your regional Medicare provider for more information about coverage. The Medicaid website has a link to state Medicaid programs, which list specific eligibility for each state.
If you need information about finding an insurance plan, watch our video: Choosing Wisely: How to Pick Insurance Plans.Visit our Health Insurance Appeals page for additional information on insurance appeals.
Some laboratories have assistance programs that help cover the cost for tumor testing:
- Caris Tumor Profiling Financial Assistance Form
- Foundation Medicine Billing and Financial Assistance
- Myriad Cares
- Tempus Billing and Financial FAQs
Organizations that offer co-pay assistance:
Other resources:
- The American Cancer Society provides information and resources on covering the cost of cancer care. Public assistance, such as Medicaid may be available if you are ineligible for other programs.
- Triage Cancer offers tools and resources to help individuals cope with the financial aspects of a cancer diagnosis.
Paying For Care
Paying for cancer treatment
The majority of public and private health insurance plans are required to cover cancer diagnosis and treatment; copays, coinsurance and deductibles often apply. Patient costs and coverage for specific doctors, facilities or treatments may vary based on your health plan. Visit our section on Insurance and Paying for Care: Treatment for more information, links to sample appeal letters and other resources.
If you need information about finding an insurance plan, watch our video: Choosing Wisely: How to Pick Insurance Plans.
Some pharmaceutical companies have assistance programs that help cover the cost for their medications:
- Astellas Patient Assistance Program
- AstraZeneca Access 360
- Bayer US Patient Assistance Foundation
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Foundation
- Eisai Patient Assistance Program
- Genentech Access Solutions
- GSK for You
- Janssen Patient Access Program
- LIlly Cares
- Merck Helps
- Pfizer Oncology Together
- Novartis Patient Assistance
- Sanofi Patient Connection
- Seattle Genetics' SeaGen Secure
- Taiho's Patient Support Program
- Takeda's Help at Hand
- Trodelvy Access Services
Organizations that offer co-pay assistance:
- Cancercare
- Patient Advocate Foundation
- Colorectal Cancer Alliance offers financial support to people in treatment for colorectal cancer.
Other resources:
- The American Cancer Society provides information and resources on covering the cost of cancer care. Public assistance, such as Medicaid may be available if you are ineligible for other programs.
- Needy Meds: Assistance programs to help patients with cost of medications and other healthcare.
- Triage Cancer offers tools and resources to help individuals cope with the financial aspects of a cancer diagnosis.
Open Clinical Trials
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.
Open Clinical Trials
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 .