Dr. Patel on an Analysis of Olaparib and Cediranib for Ovarian Cancer

Jyoti D. Patel, MD, ASCO expert, associate professor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, discusses a phase II trial that looked at olaparib in combination with cediranib versus olaparib alone in recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. This trial was presented by Dr. Joyce Liu at the 2014 ASCO Annual Meeting.

In this trial, patients treated with the combination of olaparib and cediranib saw a near doubling in progression-free survival compared with those patients receiving olaparib alone (17.7 months and 9.0 months, respectively).

These patients with recurrent ovarian cancer often experience debilitating symptoms, Patel says, so this combination elicited a significant quality of life benefit. There was, however, more toxicity with the combination, including hypertension, rash, and fatigue.

Results from this trial are compelling and the combination will be explored in a phase III trial.