Anti-Angiogenesis Therapy in Ovarian Cancer: Which Patient is It Most Likely to Benefit?

Abstract

Angiogenesis is known to play an important role in normal ovarian physiology as well as in growth and progression of ovarian cancer. The first FDA approval of bevacizumab in 2004 was for metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with chemotherapy; this was a key point for several subsequent approvals of antiangiogenic drugs. The efficacy of bevacizumab treatment is modest, however, and most ovarian cancer patients eventually develop acquired resistance, which highlights the need for new targeted therapies and/or combination strategies. Understanding the multitude of variables in response to antiangiogenic therapy would offer potential strategies for selecting patients most likely to benefit from such therapy.