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Current status of anti-angiogenic agents in the treatment of ovarian carcinoma

  • Educational Series
  • Advances in Clinical Management and Therapy of Cancer
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Abstract

During the last decade we have assisted in the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of ovarian cancer, based on the best knowledge of molecular biology. One of the most promising strategies under investigation is antiangiogenic therapy. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal humanised antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which has shown antitumour activity in ovarian cancer in preclinical models as well as in clinical trials, both in monotherapy and in combination with other therapies. Currently, ongoing phase III trials are testing bevacizumab as a front-line therapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel. Bevacizumab has been generally well tolerated with mild frequent toxicities (proteinuria, hypertension and bleeding). However, the drug may result in other uncommon, but potentially life-threatening side effects, such as arterial thromboembolism, wound healing complications, and gastrointestinal perforation or fistulae, which should be considered when the drug is administered. Other new therapeutic antiangiogenic strategies that include small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, antibodies neutralising the VEGF receptor (VEGFR) and soluble VEGFR hybrids (VEGF Trap) are being investigated with promising early results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Campus Teatinos, s/n, ES-29010, Málaga, Spain

    Alfonso Sánchez-Muñoz, Elisabeth Pérez-Ruiz & Emilio Alba Conejo

  2. Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre, Madrid, Spain

    César Mendiola Fernández

  3. Medical Oncology Department, Centro Oncológico MD Anderson International España, Madrid, Spain

    Antonio González-Martín

Authors
  1. Alfonso Sánchez-Muñoz
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  2. Elisabeth Pérez-Ruiz
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  3. César Mendiola Fernández
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  4. Emilio Alba Conejo
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  5. Antonio González-Martín
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Correspondence to Alfonso Sánchez-Muñoz.

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Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from MSD Oncology

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Sánchez-Muñoz, A., Pérez-Ruiz, E., Fernández, C.M. et al. Current status of anti-angiogenic agents in the treatment of ovarian carcinoma. Clin Transl Oncol 11, 589–595 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-009-0409-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-009-0409-8

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