Ovarian cancer breakthrough: New targeted drug gives women more time, better quality of life and fresh hope
A new targeted ovarian cancer treatment is helping women with hard-to-treat disease live longer, feel better, and gain renewed hope for the future.
A diagnosis of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer has offered few treatment options for many years for those women. This type of ovarian cancer is very aggressive and resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy, making it difficult to treat and lessening the chances of survival. But, there's now a new targeted therapy available called mirvetuximab soravtansine, that's bringing some new hope to patients and doctors.
The breakthrough drugs, under the name Elahere, is being touted as one of the greatest advances in ovarian cancer treatment in over 21 years, by researchers in the field. New clinical trial outcomes imply it might be useful in lengthening a patient's life in addition to enhancing their quality of life.
How does the drug work?
Mirvetuximab soravtansine is a newer type of cancer drug called antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Such treatments are intended to more specifically destroy the cancer cells when conventional chemotherapy drugs are used.
The medicine particularly targets a protein known as folate receptor-alpha (FRa), which is abundantly present in numerous cells of ovarian cancer. On taking up attachment to these cells it brings an extremely potent anti-cancer drug straight to the tumour. This targeted approach kills cancer cells and minimises damage to healthy tissue.
It is designed for women with platinum-resistant ovarian (playfohn), fallopian tube cancer or primary peritoneal cancer.
Why is this important?
Ovarian cancer is one of the most deadly feminine cancers in the world. Many girls are treated after the disease is in its second or third state since symptoms are often vague.
Treatment for patients with non-attractable platinum and whose cancer has developed resistance to such treatment has offered minimal benefits previously. Most treatments have also fairly serious side effects, and provide a small improvement in the likelihood of patients surviving.
That's why mirvetuximab soravtansine has the spotlight shining on it so brightly among oncologists.
What found the MIRASOL Trail?
Over 450 FRa-positive patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer were enrolled in the Phase III MIRASOL trial. Scientists have compared mirvetuximab soravtansine and conventional chemotherapy, and identified some key advantages.
The median overall survival period for patients who received the targeted therapy was approximately 16.5 months and for patients who received chemotherapy was approximately 12.8 months. The drug also improved the time to disease progression by about 5.6 months, about 4 months in the chemotherapy group.
Moreover, tumour shrinkage was seen in more patients and the treatment cut down almost one-third the risk of mortality.
Are there any side-effects?
Mirvetuximab soravtansine, as with any cancer treatment, has the potential for side effects. The most common include nausea, fatigue, blurred vision and certain eye-related problems. Due to the risks involved, it is recommended for patients to have regular eye check-ups throughout the treatment.
Despite all this, research indicates that the drug has a generally better tolerability compared with conventional chemotherapy.
Mirvetuximab soravtansine is not a cure, but is significant progress in the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The therapy is helping to reset expectations for patients living with this difficult disease by providing longer survival, reducing disease progression, and improving patients' quality of life. In the future, with the development of precision medicine, there could be more eligible women for target therapies specific to their kind of cancer.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Patients with ovarian cancer should consult their oncologist or healthcare provider for personalized treatment recommendations and information.
