Prolonged response to aflibercept in ovarian cancer relapse: a case report

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) targeted therapies, including bevacizumab, are established treatments for ovarian cancer.
• Aflibercept is a soluble fusion protein that inhibits VEGF signaling and has shown potential in ovarian cancer, particularly for managing malignant ascites.

Observation:

• A patient with relapsed ovarian cancer received aflibercept as fourth-line therapy.
• The patient experienced a response lasting over two years, exceeding the duration of previous treatments.

Findings:

• Aflibercept demonstrated a prolonged and well-tolerated response in this ovarian cancer patient.
• The therapy effectively controlled malignant ascites without recurrence during the treatment period.
• The duration of response to aflibercept surpassed that of initial carboplatin-paclitaxel and subsequent therapies.

Implications:

• This case highlights the potential of aflibercept in managing relapsed ovarian cancer, even in later lines of therapy.
• Further clinical research is needed to identify specific patient populations who may derive maximal benefit from aflibercept.
• Aflibercept could be a valuable therapeutic option for ovarian cancer patients, particularly those with refractory disease or ascites.