Range of Treatment Options, Precision-Based Medicine a Focus for Ovarian Cancers

The range of options for treating gynecologic malignancies is expanding with approved targeted agents and a greater focus on maintaining quality of life (QoL). According to Maurie Markman, MD, who has been in the field for decades, the field is moving in a precision-based medicine direction, with an expanding array of options for managing patients.

Within the last few years, 3 FDA-approved PARP inhibitors have altered the way oncologists treat select patients with ovarian cancer. In May 2018, rucaparib (Rubraca) joined niraparib (Zejula) and olaparib (Lynparza) as having maintenance-setting indications for the treatment of patients who are in complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Combination therapies that incorporate immunotherapy are also being studied.

In this clip, Markman discusses ovarian cancer as a chronic illness, and the increasing focus on precision medicine.