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Chemosensitivity and chemoresistance testing in ovarian cancer
1Translational Oncology Research Centre, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK.
Purpose Of Review:
Sensitivity testing in ovarian cancer to individualize therapy remains an active area of interest and this has been renewed recently by results from several groups. The clinical results of assay-directed therapy are invariably better than would be expected from empirical treatment, but it has proved difficult to get these tests into practice.
Recent Findings:
Several recent studies suggest that cellular individualized tumour response tests, particularly the ATP-based tumour chemosensitivity assay, can improve the chance of response and probably survival for individual patients. Most tumour response tests show excellent correlation with clinical resistance, but vary in their ability to predict sensitivity. Molecular assays of sensitivity and resistance are less developed in ovarian cancer than in breast cancer, but those using multiple gene signatures show considerable promise.
Summary:
Individualized therapy has the ability to guide the use of chemotherapy as well as newer agents. The development of companion diagnostics for drugs used in ovarian cancer has considerable potential for the future and such assays are already proving useful where there is clinical evidence of equivalence between possible treatments.
Insights
Individualized tumor sensitivity testing in ovarian cancer improves treatment outcomes. Assays like the ATP-based chemosensitivity test show promise for guiding chemotherapy and newer agents, enhancing patient response and survival.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Individualized therapy for ovarian cancer is gaining traction.
- Clinical results from assay-directed treatments surpass empirical approaches.
- Integrating these tests into practice remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current state of sensitivity testing in ovarian cancer.
- To explore the potential of individualized therapy for ovarian cancer patients.
- To highlight recent advancements in predictive assays.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent studies on tumor response tests.
- Analysis of ATP-based tumor chemosensitivity assays.
- Evaluation of molecular assays using gene signatures.
Main Results:
- Cellular individualized tumor response tests, especially ATP-based assays, can enhance patient response and survival.
- Most tumor response tests correlate well with clinical resistance.
- Molecular assays show promise but are less developed than in breast cancer.
Conclusions:
- Individualized therapy can guide the use of both chemotherapy and novel agents in ovarian cancer.
- Companion diagnostics for ovarian cancer drugs hold significant future potential.
- Assays are proving valuable when clinical treatment equivalence is demonstrated.
