Pazopanib plus chemo improves response but not survival in advanced ovarian cancer

Treatment with pazopanib combined with chemotherapy leads to better overall response rate (ORR) in patients with recurrent or persistent ovarian cancer but falls short of improving survival, reveals a study. In addition, the combination therapy contributes to an increase in several adverse events (AEs).

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the efficacy and side effects of pazopanib plus chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. The investigators did a systematic search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for relevant randomized controlled trials published up to 2 September 2022.

ORR, disease control rate, 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate, 2-year PFS rate, 1-year overall survival (OS) rate, 2-year OS rate, and AEs were the primary outcomes.

Five studies, including a total of 518 patients with recurrent or persistent ovarian cancer, met the eligibility criteria. Pooled results demonstrated significantly improved ORR with pazopanib plus chemotherapy (pooled risk ratio, 1.400, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.062‒1.846; p=0.017), but not disease control rate, 1-year PFS, 2-year PFS, 1-year OS, or 2-year OS.

In addition, pazopanib increased the occurrence of AEs such as neutropenia, hypertension, fatigue, and liver dysfunction.

“Further large-sample clinical trials are needed to verify these results to guide pazopanib use in patients with ovarian cancer,” the investigators said.

“Patients with recurrent or persistent ovarian cancer often have poor prognoses, and their optimal treatment regimen remains unclear,” they noted. “Inhibition of angiogenesis is a valuable strategy for treating ovarian cancer, and the drug pazopanib is a potent, multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitor.”