Pharmacotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer: current status and future perspectives

Several 'lines of therapy' that utilize cytotoxic agents and are driven by platinum-free intervals are the current standard of care for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. For patients with platinum-resistant disease, single agent chemotherapy (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, topotecan, gemcitabine or weekly paclitaxel) is the standard of care. For patients with platinum-sensitive disease, combination chemotherapy (carboplatin plus paclitaxel, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin or gemcitabine) is the standard of care. In addition, antiangiogenic therapy using bevacizumab is an established option. Future directions could include 'lines of therapy' with biologic agents driven by specific biologic targets. Data from antiangiogenic agents (trebananib, pazopanib and cediranib), antifolate drugs (farletuzumab and vintafolide), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (olaparib and veliparib), mTOR inhibitors (everolimus and temsirolimus) and immune editing agents (nivolumab) have been summarized in this review.