Dr. English on Mirvetuximab Soravtansine in Ovarian Cancer

Diana P. English, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at Stanford Hospital and Clinics, discusses the development of the antibody drug conjugate (ADC) mirvetuximab soravtansine in ovarian cancer.

Mirvetuximab soravtansine targets the folate receptor-alpha (FRα), says English. This ADC has an antibody specific to the FRα. The specificity of the antibody for the FRα allows physicians to target tumor cells that tend to have a high expression of FRα, states English.

About 80% of ovarian cancers overexpress FRα, which makes it a worthwhile target to explore. In the population of patients who are platinum-resistant and not heavily pretreated, the drug has shown very meaningful results, with objective response rates around 39%. Typically, single agents show response rates in the range of 10% to 20%. The drug is now being tested in a phase III clinical trial called FORWARD I. It will be compared with physician’s choice of doxorubicin, topotecan, or paclitaxel in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.