Breakthrough ovarian cancer drug offers patients more time and better quality of life
An international clinical trial led by British researchers has shown that a new drug combination gives patients with advanced recurrent ovarian cancer more than nine extra months free of disease progression. The trial's chief investigator described the magnitude as "a step we haven't seen in years in this field", speaking to the BBC.
The phase-3 trial, named EAGLE, randomised 743 patients to receive rucaparib (a PARP inhibitor) plus bevacizumab (an anti-VEGF antibody) or standard care. Data published alongside an investor briefing showed progression-free survival of 22 months in the combination arm against 13 months in the control arm.
The target population is women without a BRCA gene mutation whose disease has responded to platinum-based chemotherapy and then recurred. Patients with BRCA mutations had previously benefited most from PARP inhibitors; the new data suggests the effect can be extended to a wider population.
Professor Jonathan Ledermann of Imperial College London, lead author, told the BBC: "For these patients in the real world this means months away from chemotherapy clinics, months back in normal family life. This is not just a survival number, this is quality of life."
On secondary endpoints hospital admissions fell by about a third compared with control, and the number of additional chemotherapy cycles patients needed dropped from an average of six to two. Quality-of-life questionnaires recorded improvements in fatigue and social function scores.
On side effects, the combination arm showed higher rates of anaemia and hypertension, but treatment discontinuation rates were similar to the control group. Clinicians describe these toxicities as manageable.
Dr Susana Banerjee, an oncologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital, told the BBC: "For ovarian cancer that has come back we did not have a treatment option that worked for a long time. This trial fills that gap." Dr Banerjee was one of the principal investigators on EAGLE.
NHS England has asked national assessment body NICE to fast-track its review. If approved, the regimen could be added to the eligibility pool for roughly 7,500 recurrent ovarian cancer patients a year.
Drug cost is the sticking point. At current manufacturer pricing, the per-patient annual cost is estimated above £60,000; NICE typically uses thresholds around £30,000. Negotiations on a confidential discount are reportedly under way.
This article is not medical advice. Ovarian cancer patients or those at risk should discuss treatment options with their oncologist and contact research centres directly to ask about trial participation.
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