A recent clinical trial has shown promising results for women with low-grade serous ovarian cancer, a type of cancer that is notoriously difficult to treat. The trial tested a new combination of drugs, avutometinib and defactinib, and found that almost a third (31%) of the women saw their tumours shrink or stop growing, even though this type of cancer typically does not respond well to chemotherapy.
The results were even more encouraging for patients with a mutation in the KRAS gene, with 44% of them experiencing tumour shrinkage. These findings have sparked excitement among experts, who believe that this treatment could potentially revolutionise the way this type of cancer is managed globally, providing hope for patients who have limited treatment options.
Leading the clinical trial is Professor Susana Banerjee, a consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Cancer Research, London. She expressed optimism about the results, highlighting that the combination of avutometinib and defactinib could set a new standard of care for individuals with recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer. The lower toxicities associated with these drugs also offer a more tolerable treatment option for patients compared to conventional therapies.
The investigational drugs used in the trial are being developed by biotech company Verastem Oncology. The study’s findings were presented at the International Gynaecologic Cancer Society’s meeting in Dublin, where it was revealed that a significant proportion of patients with low-grade serous ovarian cancer responded positively to the drug combination. This subtype of ovarian cancer is particularly challenging to treat and often recurs even after standard treatments.
Both avutometinib and defactinib work by inhibiting signals that promote the growth of cancer cells. The trial reported a low dropout rate of only 10% of patients, indicating that most individuals could tolerate the drugs and their associated side effects.
With plans to recruit more patients for a phase three trial, researchers are hopeful that the positive outcomes seen in the current study will continue to translate into improved patient outcomes. This breakthrough offers a ray of hope for those affected by low-grade serous ovarian cancer, paving the way for more effective and tolerable treatment options in the future.