New ovarian cancer treatment achieves 70% survival at seven years

The survival in advanced stage ovarian cancer, so far practically nil, achieves percentages of 70% at seven years, according to a study presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), and that it is in phase III, i.e. ready for drug commercialization.

In statements to the media, the member of the Spanish Ovarian Cancer Group (GEiCO) and oncologist of gynecological tumors at the 12 de Octubre hospital, Luis Manso, explained that after 20 years with no new developments in ovarian cancer, today there is a treatment that represents a significant improvement in survival, “and which opens the door to total cure”.

This is a type of ovarian cancer, the one that affects women with BRCA 1 and 2 mutations, and which involves 22% of ovarian carcinomas.

This type of tumor is one of the most aggressive and the fifth with the highest mortality rate in women, behind breast, colorectal, pancreatic and lung cancer.

The results of the phase III SOLO-1 and PAOLA-1 trials, presented by Professor Jonathan Ledermann, UCL Cancer Institute, London, show the long-term survival benefits with one drug (olaparib) in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer.

This is, according to the coordinator and Professor Ledermann, positive data from progression-free survival and very encouraging for the future.

For Dr. Manso, the incorporation of these drugs (there is also the combination of olaparib and bevacizumab) allows patients to live “longer and better” lives and recalled that historically it is a very aggressive cancer that one in 70 women suffer in their lifetime.

In addition to ovarian cancer, two studies led by the head of the Gynecologic Neoplasms Group at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) in Barcelona were presented at the ESMO congress, Ana Oaknin.

Cervical cancer

These trials address the treatment of cervical cancer, mostly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the fourth leading cause of death in women, with most frequently diagnosed between the ages of 35 and 44.

Speaking to EFE, Oaknin stressed that cervical cancer is preventable and is 99% preventable with the HPV vaccine. which is why he has described it as “frustrating” to see patients in advanced stages.

The studies presented have shown an improvement in the survival with the immunotherapy drug cemiplimab, reducing up to 35% of the risk of death.

And a second study has confirmed the efficacy of immunotherapy without chemotherapy, as first line of treatment.

Oaknin has called on the social culture to. raise awareness of the vaccine and regretted that there is still a perception of lack of risk. For this reason, she has appealed to the scientific community to make visible the new treatments for dealing with gynecological tumors.