Dr. Salani on Future Research Opportunities in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Ritu Salani, MD, MBA, director, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Los Angeles, discusses future research opportunities for improving the treatment of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

Treatment with novel immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors, has not been encouraging for this patient population, with only modest responses elicted by single-agent strategies, according to Salani. As such, combination therapy could represent an exciting opportunity to enhance care, Salani says. There may be a role for immunotherapy combinations with checkpoint inhibitors or bevacizumab (Avastin), or other 3-drug regimens, based on response rates observed in limited subsets, Salani explains.

These combinations may be a challenge for patients who have received prior treatment with PARP inhibitors, but the strategy has potential for those who are PARP inhibitor naïve, Salani continues. Additionally, it is important to be mindful of toxicities in the recurrent setting for heavily pretreated patients, Salani explains.

A balance between physical, emotional, and financial burden is needed, as more efforts are made to improve response rates in this population, Salani concludes.