Antiangiogenic Agents in Ovarian Cancer

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Bevacizumab is an antiangiogenic agent that exploits the tumor microvasculature, explains Robert A. Burger, MD. As long as there is no disease progression or unacceptable toxicities, and patients are willing to receive it, bevacizumab therapy should be continued indefinitely, states James Tate Thigpen, MD.

In November 2014, the FDA approved bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy for patients with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer. The decision was based on findings from the phase III AURELIA trial, which demonstrated a median PFS with bevacizumab of 6.8 versus 3.4 months with chemotherapy alone (HR = 0.38; P <.0001).

Burger notes that there are studies in non-gynecologic tumors, such as colon cancer, that have continued antiangiogenic therapy beyond disease progression and demonstrated survival advantage in the next line of therapy. Clinical trials evaluating the utilization of antiangiogenic agents beyond disease progression in ovarian cancer are ongoing in Europe.