Innovative therapies for advanced ovarian cancer.

The emergence of drug-resistant tumors during therapy for ovarian cancer remains an obstacle to improving long-term outcomes. Active areas of ovarian cancer research include clinical evaluation of non-cross-resistant antineoplastic agents that demonstrated single-agent activity in ovarian cancer during the 1990s: oxaliplatin, the new anthracyclines (epirubicin, liposomal doxorubicin), topotecan, oral etoposide, gemcitabine, and vinorelbine. Most of these new agents are currently being evaluated as a component of doublet and triplet combination regimens for advanced ovarian cancer, with use of sequential alternating doublet regimens gaining interest. The potential role of intraperitoneal therapy continues to be investigated. In addition, there are a variety of innovative treatment strategies on the horizon that are targeted at underlying disease processes, including anticancer vaccines, gene therapy, and antiangiogenic therapy. Based on this multitude of investigational questions and the low cure rates currently achieved, all women with advanced ovarian cancer should be offered participation in clinical trials.