Future trial directions for ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer remains one of the most challenging gynaecological cancers to treat due to late-stage diagnosis and resistance to standard therapies. Ongoing and future clinical trials aim to improve early detection, enhance treatment effectiveness and personalise therapies for better patient outcomes.

What are the key areas of focus for ovarian cancer trials?

1. Advancing targeted therapies

Future trials are focusing on precision medicine approaches to target specific genetic mutations found in ovarian cancer. Key areas include:

• PARP inhibitors: Expanding their use beyond BRCA-mutated cancers.
• Angiogenesis inhibitors: Exploring new drugs to block tumour blood supply.
• Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs): Combining antibodies with chemotherapy for precise tumour targeting.

2. Immunotherapy advancements

Trials are investigating checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapy to enhance the immune system’s ability to fight ovarian cancer. Key developments include:

• Combination therapies: Using immunotherapy alongside chemotherapy or targeted drugs.
• Tumour vaccines: Stimulating the immune system to recognise ovarian cancer cells.

3. Novel chemotherapy approaches

Research is focusing on ways to improve chemotherapy delivery and effectiveness while reducing side effects. Some promising directions include:

• Intraperitoneal chemotherapy: Delivering chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity.
• Nanoparticle drug delivery: Enhancing drug absorption at the tumour site.

4. Early detection and screening

Early detection significantly improves survival rates. Future trials are exploring:

• Biomarker discovery: Identifying blood-based markers for early ovarian cancer detection.
• Advanced imaging techniques: Using the latest scanning technology to improve early diagnosis.

5. Overcoming drug resistance

Many ovarian cancers develop resistance to standard treatments. Trials are investigating:

• Reversal of resistance mechanisms through combination therapies.
• Epigenetic therapies to modify gene expression and resensitise cancer cells to treatment.

What challenges do ovarian cancer trials face?

• Patient recruitment: Late-stage diagnosis limits trial eligibility.
• Tumour heterogeneity: Ovarian cancer varies significantly between patients.
• Treatment resistance: Finding long-term solutions remains a challenge.

Future ovarian cancer trials aim to improve targeted therapies, immunotherapy, early detection and chemotherapy delivery while addressing drug resistance. Ongoing research continues to focus on personalising treatments and improving survival rates for patients with ovarian cancer.