Phase II study of AZD6244 (AstraZeneca) shows benefits for patients with Ovarian Cancer

A Phase II trial provides the first evidence that AZD6244 (selumetinib), from AstraZeneca, shows a relatively high response rate for patients with Ovarian Cancer. This clinical trial for low-grade serous Ovarian Cancer shows eight of 52 (15 percent) patients had a complete or objective partial response (tumor shrinkage) and 34 (65 percent) had no disease progression during the two-year study. All 52 patients had received at least one previous therapy. Results indicate median progression-free survival of 11 months, and 34 patients (65 percent) went at least six months without their disease worsening.

Two-year overall survival rate was 55 percent. Data on median overall survival has not been reached, because 61 percent remain alive at the time of data cutoff. There were no treatment-related deaths and side effects ranged from cardio and gastrointestinal toxicity to pain, fatigue, anemia and dermatological effects. Researchers now plan to explore the question of matching drug to mutation during a larger Phase II/III clinical trial. Results appear in The Lancet Oncology. See: "Selumetinib in women with recurrent low-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary or peritoneum: an open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study." John Farley et al. The Lancet Oncology, Volume 14, Issue 2, Pages 134 - 140, February 2013 doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(12)70572-7