Targeted agents and combinations in ovarian cancer: where are we now?

Epithelial ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease with distinct histological subtypes characterized by different patterns of clinical behaviour. The identification of molecular pathways associated with individual subtypes has fuelled enthusiasm for the development of targeted therapies directed at specific subtypes of ovarian cancer. To date, the most successful targeted therapies in ovarian cancer to have undergone clinical development include anti-angiogenic agents and PARP inhibitors. Other promising areas of development include folate receptor antagonists, MEK and BRAF inhibitors in low-grade serous carcinoma, and immunotherapy. These novel therapeutic agents have the potential to maximize tumor efficacy, minimize toxicity and improve outcomes for women with epithelial ovarian cancer.