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Targeted Therapy for Ovarian Cancer
Untitled Document
Name of the Trial
Phase III Randomized Study of Carboplatin and Paclitaxel Versus Carboplatin,
Paclitaxel, and Concurrent Bevacizumab Without Versus With Extended Bevacizumab
in Patients With Stage III or IV Ovarian Epithelial or Primary Peritoneal Cancer
(GOG-0218). See the protocol
summary.
Principal Investigators
Dr. Robert Burger and Dr. Gini Fleming, Gynecologic Oncology Group.
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Dr. Robert Burger
Principal Investigator |
Why This Trial Is Important
Most women with ovarian cancer are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread
to the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or beyond. The standard
treatment for advanced ovarian cancer is surgery, both to establish the stage
and type of cancer and to remove as much cancerous tissue as possible, followed
by chemotherapy with drugs such as carboplatin and paclitaxel. Despite aggressive
treatment, however, the survival rate for advanced ovarian cancer remains low.
In this trial, women who have undergone initial surgery for ovarian cancer
or primary peritoneal cancer (which is biologically similar to ovarian cancer)
will receive standard intravenous chemotherapy. Some women will also receive
concurrent treatment with a biologic agent called bevacizumab. Bevacizumab blocks
the activity of a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor, which helps
tumors form new blood vessels needed for continued growth and spread. Following
chemotherapy, some of the bevacizumab-treated women will receive additional
courses of bevacizumab.
"In earlier trials, bevacizumab was shown to shrink ovarian tumors and
stop tumor progression in some women with recurrent ovarian cancer," said
Dr. Burger. "Based on these studies and studies of combining bevacizumab
with chemotherapy for other advanced cancers, we're undertaking this trial to
see if concurrent bevacizumab or concurrent and extended bevacizumab will help
women with advanced ovarian cancer live longer and delay time to tumor progression."
Who Can Join This Trial
Researchers will enroll 2,000 women with suboptimal stage III or stage IV ovarian
or primary peritoneal cancer who have undergone initial surgery for their cancer.
See the list
of eligibility criteria.
Study Sites and Contact Information
Study sites in the United States are recruiting patients for this trial. See
the list
of study contacts or call the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER
(1-800-422-6237) for more information. The toll-free call is confidential.
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