Current and future directions of clinical trials for ovarian cancer

The management of ovarian cancer includes a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. The majority of clinical trials have historically addressed questions pertaining to the selection, dosing, and schedule of chemotherapy agents.

In this report, a comprehensive review of the major clinical trials in ovarian cancer is performed. The increasing data and clinical experience in the management of ovarian cancer, as it sets the stage for currently active protocols and future clinical trial design, are emphasized.

Paclitaxel plus carboplatin is the primary intravenous treatment strategy in the front-line setting. Recent data show an improvement in overall survival for intravenous dose-dense treatment. Multiple randomized controlled trials support the use of intraperitoneal treatment. For recurrent disease, a growing number of new agents including targeted therapeutics are now available. Increasingly, surgical approach, biologic targets, and quality of life endpoints are included in clinical trial design.

Over the last several decades, clinical trials have defined the current therapeutic approach for ovarian cancer. Paclitaxel with a platinum-based agent is currently the preferred front-line therapy, with encouraging data to support either dose-dense or intraperitoneal drug delivery. Future trials will determine the role of biologic agents and vaccine therapies, as well as their impact on quality of life.