Study: ChemoFx chemoresponse assay can help identify platinum resistance in primary ovarian cancer

Jul 8 2013

Precision Therapeutics, a leading life-science company dedicated to the improvement of patient outcomes in personalized medicine, today announced findings that support the ChemoFx^® chemoresponse assay as a tool to aid in the identification of platinum resistance in primary ovarian cancer, according to a presentation at the Annual Meeting of The Western Association of Gynecologic Oncologists (WAGO) June 26-29, in Seattle, Washington. This scientific poster was chosen for display at the WAGO conference due to the significance of the scientific discovery for treating primary ovarian cancer patients.

“The results of this study answer the clinical question of whether ChemoFx can identify platinum-resistant/refractory primary ovarian patients”

Carboplatin/paclitaxel combination therapy is the standard of care in treating women with primary ovarian cancer. While most women will initially respond to first-line treatment, the vast majority will eventually relapse. Platinum status is classified at the time of relapse and aids in determining future prognosis and subsequent treatment strategies.

In this observational, multi-site study, 276 patients diagnosed as primary, FIGO stage III-IV ovarian, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer were treated with carboplatin/paclitaxel, following cytoreductive surgery, and association of progression-free survival with ChemoFx^® assay results for carboplatin or paclitaxel was analyzed individually and jointly. Tumors that were resistant to carboplatin in vitro were associated with an increased risk of disease progression compared to those that were sensitive>

These findings provide clinically valuable information about an individual patient's prognosis and how likely it is that the patient would benefit from the use of the ChemoFx assay to determine platinum resistance or sensitivity in the primary ovarian cancer setting. Determining platinum status earlier in primary ovarian cancer may prevent this high-risk group of patients from being exposed to multiple cycles of ineffective therapy and allow for more effective alternate therapeutic options earlier in disease, with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes.

The primary author of the research is Thomas C. Krivak, M.D. Dr. Krivak is the Assistant Director of Gynecologic Oncology, Director Clinical Research in Gynecologic Oncology, West Penn Allegheny Health System, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pittsburgh PA.

"The results of this study answer the clinical question of whether ChemoFx can identify platinum-resistant/refractory primary ovarian patients," said Dr. Krivak. "Determining the platinum status of a patient earlier in the disease may help in the selection of the most effective treatment upfront, with minimal exposure to ineffective and often intolerable therapy. Additionally, having a better understanding of the tumor and chemotherapy resistance could justify the use of bevacizumab or other targeted agents."