Molecular-Targeted and Hormonal Therapy Combo Offer Promise For Treating Ovarian Cancer

A combination of molecular-targeted therapy and hormonal therapy may be the most promising area of research for those looking for an effective treatment for ovarian cancer, according to a new review.

"Several clinical trials have confirmed the role of hormone therapy in recurrent ovarian cancer treatment, especially in patients with low-grade tumors,” noted review author Dr. Siqing Fu, an assistant professor of oncology at the University of Texas at Houston (USA). "However, more research is needed to determine whether combining molecular-targeted therapy with hormonal therapy would be a more effective option.”

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of gynecologic cancers; approximately 70% of patients are diagnosed in the later stages, when the five-year survival rate drops below 25%. Traditional chemotherapy has proven to be generally ineffective against recurrent ovarian cancer, which has led researchers to investigate novel treatments.

"While a cure is unlikely, the goals of treatment are to control tumor-related symptoms and to improve or maintain quality of life,” said Dr. Fu. "After surveying the latest research, combined molecular-targeted and hormonal therapy offers the greatest promise in achieving these goals and therefore deserves further investigation.”

The study was published in May 2007 in the early online issue of the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer.


Related Links:
University of Texas at Houston