Farletuzumab in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Introduction: Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate of the gynaecological malignancies and approximately two thirds of affected women have Stage III/IV disease at diagnosis. Survival rates have been improved by cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy but cure rates have not. Tumours exhibiting folate receptor alpha positivity have reduced responsiveness to cytotoxic chemotherapy and the degree of receptor expression is associated with tumour grade.

Areas Covered: Farletuzumab (MORAb-003) is a humanized mAb with high affinity for folate receptor α (FRα), a 38 kDa GPI-anchored protein that is overexpressed in greater than 90% of epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC). The authors examine the published pharmacokinetic, safety, and clinical efficacy data from the Phase I, Phase II, Phase III studies of farletuzumab.

Expert Opinion: The benefits of farletuzumab treatment observed in Phase I and II trials did not carry though to Phase III. It is possible that patient selection and serum biomarkers may be helpful in identifying patients that may derive benefit.