Novel agents in epithelial ovarian cancer.

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Abstract
The gold standard chemotherapy for previously untreated patients with ovarian cancer is currently a combination of taxane and platinum. However, most patients still suffer relapse, and less than 20% of the patients with stage III or IV disease survive long term. With more advanced technology, newer cytotoxic agents have been identified and are currently being tested in patients with ovarian cancer. Recent advances in the understanding of ovarian cancer biology have also led to the identification of multiple molecular targets that may soon change the standard treatment of ovarian cancer. Several of these targeted agents have entered clinical trials. Small molecular-weight inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, antisense therapy, and gene therapy are all being evaluated alone and in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Several of these cytotoxic and targeted therapies are reviewed here. Ultimately, the success of ovarian cancer therapy lies not just in the availability of new agents but in the ability to identify patients with biomarkers that may predict their response to these agents.