Day 18 A Month of Teal : Ovarian Cancer - Recurrence is Common

Recurrence was one thing I tried not to think about when I was initially diagnosed. But more than 80% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer ( or fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer ) have a recurrence after completing initial treatment

Most likely once you finish front line treatment for ovarian cancer your doctor will follow up with you on a regular basis. He/she may ask you to have your CA-125 level checked every 1-3 months . Increases over time in your level of CA-125 may signal a recurrence. A trial by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the EORTC  showed there was no benefit to women in detecting and treating a rising CA-125. If your CA125 rises you may be asked to have a CT scan.

Patients with confirmed recurrent disease are separated into two groups:

• Platinum resistant or platinum refractory recurrence is when a women 's disease will progress while on initial treatment or when the disease returns within 6 months of completing initial treatment.  A women will usually begin treatment with a drug other than the carboplatin/cisplatin taxol combination that she was given originally.
• Platinum sensitive recurrence  is when the disease recurs more than  6 months from finishing initial treatment. In this case, most women are given a platinum drug and another chemotherapy agent. 

Sources:
NCI
https://www.cancer.gov/types/ovarian/hp/ovarian-epithelial-treatment-pdq#section/_82
OCRFA
https://ocrfa.org/patients/about-ovarian-cancer/recurrence/

Over the next two days  I will share more information on the chemotherapy and targeted therapy treatments a women might receive after a recurrence.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Avastin ( Bevacizumab) Approval Expanded for Platinum Sensitive Ovarian Cancer

Earlier this month the FDA approved the expanded use of Avastin (bevacizumab) for platinum sensitive ovarian cancer (OC) . Being platinum sensitive means that a women has a recurrence 6 months or more from her last treatment.

Avastin may be used for:
"Recurrent epithelial ovarian , fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer that is

• platinum-resistant in combination with paclitaxel, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, or topotecan
• platinum-sensitive in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel or in combination with carboplatin and gemcitabine, followed byAvastin as a single agent (1.6) "

The complete label of use for Avastin / bevacizumab may be found here.

This approval is based on two phase III studies. One study, GOG-213, showed a 5 month longer overall survival for women with platinum sensitive OC when treated with  bevacizumab and chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone. The other study, OCEANS, showed a median progression free survival of  4 months for those receiving Avastin and chemotherapy versus those receiving placebo and chemotherapy.

Avastin had previously been approved in 2014 for women with platinum resistant ovarian cancer, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal in combination with paclitaxel, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin or topotecan chemotherapy.


Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! Happy to see more options for women with platinum sensitive OC. 



Sources
Roche:
http://www.roche.com/media/store/releases/med-cor-2016-12-07.htm

Cure Today:
http://www.curetoday.com/articles/avastin-gets-expanded-fda-approval-for-platinumsensitive-ovarian-cancer 

Genentech:
https://www.gene.com/media/press-releases/14647/2016-12-06/fda-approves-genentechs-avastin-bevacizu