Dr Dizon on the Future of Precision Medicine in Ovarian Cancer Management

Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP, FASCO, director, Pelvic Malignancies Program, director, Hematology-Oncology Outpatient Clinics, Lifespan Cancer Institute; head, Community Outreach and Engagement, Legorreta Cancer Center; director, Medical Oncology, Rhode Island Hospital; professor, medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, discusses future directions for precision medicine approaches in the management of ovarian cancer, as highlighted in his presentation at the Second Annual Miami Cancer Institute Precision Oncology Symposium.

Dizon begins by stating that the integration of next-generation sequencing (NGS) into ovarian cancer management is likely to increase in the near future. Rather than solely focusing on specific mutations, NGS provides a comprehensive view of the genetic landscape of tumors, offering insights into potential therapeutic targets and pathways, Dizon explains. This approach allows for a more nuanced understanding of individual tumors and can guide personalized treatment strategies based on a tumor’s unique genetic profile, he adds.

Companies are exploring specific pathways and mutations relevant to ovarian cancer through tailored phase 1 trials, often using the “basket” approach where patients with specific genetic or genomic alterations are grouped together, Dizon continues. With the increasing interest and investment in gynecological cancers, including ovarian cancer, companies will likely dedicate more resources to research aimed at identifying actionable targets and developing targeted therapies, according to Dizon. Companies may explore specific pathways and mutations through phase 1 trials that include ovarian cancer as a single cohort, he suggests.

Efforts to use immunotherapy will continue within ovarian cancer, Dizon states. This research will explore targets, such as MUC1, that are commonly expressed in ovarian cancers, he says. Antigens targeting MUC1 could be used to drive responses through the development of novel antibody-drug conjugates, Dizon says. Additionally, CAR T-cell therapies are being investigated to harness the immune system's ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells, he notes.

Overall, the integration of NGS and the exploration of targeted therapies and immunotherapies reflect a paradigm shift toward precision medicine in ovarian cancer, Dizon concludes.