Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts
Published on: July 25, 2020
Targeted therapies and clinical trials in ovarian cancer
1Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston.
Abstract:
Recent advances in molecular profiling have shown that cancers arising from the ovary are phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous. Within histologies, many mutations in druggable targets are uncommon in frequency but mutations leading to activation of specific signal transduction pathways are common. These results support the notion that different targeted agents should be prioritized for testing between and within ovarian cancer histologies. The subsegmentation of ovarian cancers based on molecular features challenge traditional trial designs. Feasibility of accrual and need for data on biological and clinical consequence or target inhibition are leading to trial designs that lump or split patient populations by histology, pathway, gene, and/or mutation. This review summarizes potential therapeutic targets identified from recent molecular profiling studies of ovarian cancers and trial designs to evaluate targeted agents in rare cancer settings.
Insights
Ovarian cancers are diverse, with common pathway activations despite rare specific mutations. This suggests prioritizing targeted therapies based on individual molecular profiles and adapting clinical trial designs for rare cancer settings.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Ovarian cancers exhibit significant phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity.
- While specific druggable mutations are infrequent, common activations of signal transduction pathways are observed across different ovarian cancer subtypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review potential therapeutic targets in ovarian cancers identified through molecular profiling.
- To discuss novel clinical trial designs for evaluating targeted agents in rare cancer settings.
Main Methods:
- Summary of findings from recent molecular profiling studies of ovarian cancers.
- Analysis of current and proposed clinical trial designs for targeted therapies.
Main Results:
- Molecular profiling reveals common pathway activations, supporting histology-specific and within-histology targeted agent prioritization.
- Patient population segmentation based on molecular features challenges traditional trial designs, necessitating adaptive approaches.
Conclusions:
- Targeted therapies should be tailored based on the molecular landscape of ovarian cancers.
- Innovative trial designs are crucial for efficiently evaluating targeted agents in the context of molecularly defined patient subgroups.
Related Concept Videos
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
02:49Cancer Therapies
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
01:16Clinical Trials
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
02:56Treatment Resistent Cancers