Targeted anti-vascular therapies for ovarian cancer: current evidence

Br J Cancer. 2013 Feb 5;108(2):250-8. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2012.541.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer presents at advanced stage in around 75% of women, and despite improvements in treatments such as chemotherapy, the 5-year survival from the disease in women diagnosed between 1996 and 1999 in England and Wales was only 36%. Over 80% of patients with advanced ovarian cancer will relapse and despite a good chance of remission from further chemotherapy, they will usually die from their disease. Sequential treatment strategies are employed to maximise quality and length of life but patients eventually become resistant to cytotoxic agents. The expansion in understanding of the molecular biology that characterises cancer cells has led to the rapid development of new agents to target important pathways but the heterogeneity of ovarian cancer biology means that there is no predominant defect. This review attempts to discuss progress to date in tackling a more general target applicable to ovary cancer-angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Angiopoietins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Angiostatins / biosynthesis
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Bevacizumab
  • Bibenzyls / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Flavonoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / mortality
  • Thrombospondins / biosynthesis
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Angiopoietins
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Bibenzyls
  • Flavonoids
  • Thrombospondins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Bevacizumab
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • combretastatin
  • Angiostatins
  • flavone acetic acid