Category Archives: Anti-Estrogen Therapy

WIH Researchers Examine Role of Hormone HE4 in Patient Responses to Ovarian Cancer Treatment

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Researchers at Women & Infants’ Hospital of Rhode Island recently published the results of an investigation into the role of hormone HE4 in patient responses to ovarian cancer treatment.

Researchers at Women & Infants’ Hospital of Rhode Island recently published the results of an investigation into how we might better tailor therapy for ovarian cancer.

The work comes out of the molecular therapeutic laboratory directed by Richard G. Moore, M.D., of Women & Infants’ Program in Women’s Oncology. Entitled “HE4 expression is associated with hormonal elements and mediated by importin-dependent nuclear translocation,” the research was recently published in the international science journal Scientific Reports, a Nature publishing group.

The goal of the study was to investigate the role of the hormone HE4 (Human epididymis protein 4) in modulating ovarian cancer’s response to hormones and hormonal therapies. HE4 is a biomarker that is elevated in ovarian cancer and is known to play a role in resistance to chemotherapy.

Richard G. Moore, M.D.

Richard G. Moore, M.D.

“There is little known about the biologic functions of HE4 but we did know that there were hormonal responsive elements within the promoter region of the HE4 gene, which regulates gene expression. For this reason, we hypothesized that steroid hormones could influence expression of HE4 in ovarian cancer,” Moore explains.

The study resulted in multiple findings:

  • Hormonal therapies like tamoxifen (Nolvadex) and fulvestrant (Faslodex) are effective because they bind the estrogen receptor. If cells have less estrogen receptor expression, these drugs can’t do their job. This, the researchers believe, is due to epigenetic modifications which modify the DNA structure but not the DNA sequence itself. Overexpression led to the epigenetic modification known as decreased DNA methylation in cell culture and in human tissue samples.
  • Treatment of ovarian cancer cells with tamoxifen and fulvestrant all cause HE4 to translocate to the cell nucleus, where it can then effect further gene expression in cancer cells.
  • Using the drug ivermectin (broad-spectrum antiparasitic agent), the researchers were able to inhibit the protein import in-4, which then inhibited HE4 from translocating to the nucleus. If HE4 can’t enter the nucleus, it cannot affect gene expression. The ability to block HE4 from entering the nucleus restored sensitivity to hormonal therapy.

“We are not certain but believe this might mean there could be a subset of women whose tumors are more likely to respond to hormonal therapy. Moreover, we might be able to eventually identify which tumors these are and target treatment,” Moore says.

Dr. Moore’s lab will continue to investigate the expression of estrogen receptors in both primary and recurrent ovarian cancers and how that relates to HE4 expression. In addition, Dr. Moore and other researchers will investigate how importin inhibitors may play a role in addressing chemoresistance to standard therapeutics, particularly in HE4 overexpressing tumors.

About Women & Infants Hospital

Women & Infants’ Hospital of Rhode Island, a Care New England hospital, is one of the nation’s leading specialty hospitals for women and newborns. The primary teaching affiliate of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University for obstetrics, gynecology and newborn pediatrics, as well as a number of specialized programs in women’s medicine, Women & Infants’ is the eighth largest stand-alone obstetrical service in the country with nearly 8,400 deliveries per year.In 2009, Women & Infants opened the country’s largest, single-family room neonatal intensive care unit.

New England’s premier hospital for women and newborns, Women & Infants’ and Brown offer fellowship programs in gynecologic oncology, maternal-fetal medicine, urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery, women’s mental health, neonatal-perinatal medicine, pediatric and perinatal pathology, gynecologic pathology and cytopathology, and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. It is home to the nation’s only mother-baby perinatal psychiatric partial hospital, as well as the nation’s only fellowship program in obstetric medicine.

Women & Infants’ Hospital has been designated as a Breast Center of Excellence from the American College of Radiography; a Center for In Vitro Maturation Excellence by SAGE In Vitro Fertilization; a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence by the National Institutes of Health; and a Neonatal Resource Services Center of Excellence. It is one of the largest and most prestigious research facilities in high risk and normal obstetrics, gynecology and newborn pediatrics in the nation, and is a member of the National Cancer Institute’s Gynecologic Oncology Group and the National Institutes of Health’s Pelvic Floor Disorders Network.

Sources:

  • Lokich E et al. “HE4 expression is associated with hormonal elements and mediated by importin-dependent nuclear translocation.” Sci Rep. 2014 Jun 30;4:5500. doi: 10.1038/srep05500. [PMID:24975515] [PMCID:PMC4074789]

Related Posts:

  • Small Phase II Study Tests the Use of Fulvestrant in the Treatment of Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (March 15, 2009).
  • European Researchers Find Estrogen Receptor Gene Amplification Occurs Rarely in Ovarian Cancer (February 24, 2009).
  • Working Smarter, Not Harder: Use of Anti-Estrogen Therapy to Battle Recurrent Ovarian Cancer (August 18, 2008).

Estrogen Replacement Therapy Speeds Growth of ER+ Ovarian Cancer & Increases Risk of Lymph Node Metastasis

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Estrogen therapy used by menopausal women causes “estrogen receptor positive” (ER+) ovarian cancer to grow five times faster, according to a new study being published by researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center in the November 1 issue of Cancer Research.

Estrogen therapy used by menopausal women causes so-called “estrogen receptor positive” (ER+) ovarian cancer to grow five times faster, according to a new study being published tomorrow by researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center.

Menopausal estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) also significantly increases the likelihood of the cancer metastasizing to the lymph nodes, according to the study, which will be published in the November 1 issue of Cancer Research. The study was released online on Oct. 19, 2010. Cancer Research, published by the American Association for Cancer Research, is the world’s largest (based upon circulation) medical journal devoted specifically to cancer research.

The effect of ERT was shown in mouse models of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) ovarian cancer, which accounts for about 60 percent of all human ovarian cancer cases. Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest cancers affecting women. This year alone, nearly 22,000 women will be newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer and an estimated 13,850 women will die from the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Monique Spillman, M.D., Ph.D., Gynecologic Oncologist, University of Colorado Hospital; Assistant Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

“We showed that estrogen replacement substantially increases proliferation and risk of distant lymph node metastasis in ER+ tumors,” says Monique Spillman, M.D., Ph.D., the study’s lead researcher, a gynecologic oncologist at University of Colorado Hospital and assistant professor at of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

For the first time, Spillman and her team measured ovarian cancer growth in the abdomen of mice using novel techniques for visualizing the cancer. In mice with ER+ ovarian cancer cells, which were tagged with a firefly-like fluorescent protein that allowed them to be tracked, the introduction of estrogen therapy made the tumors grow five times faster than in mice that did not receive the ERT. The risk of the cancer moving to the lymph nodes increased to 26 percent in these mice compared with 6 percent in mice that did not receive ERT.

The team also found that the estrogen-regulated genes in ovarian cancer reacted differently than ER+ genes found in breast cancer, helping to explain why current anti-estrogen therapies used with breast cancer, such as tamoxifen, are largely ineffective against ovarian cancer.

“Breast cancer and ovarian cancer are often linked when talking about hormone replacement therapy, but we found that only 10 percent of the ER+ genes overlapped,” Spillman says. “We were able to identify estrogen-regulated genes specific to ER+ ovarian cancer that are not shared with ER+ breast cancers. We believe these genes can be specifically targeted with new anti-estrogen therapies that could more effectively treat ER+ ovarian cancers.”

“Breast cancer and ovarian cancer are often linked when talking about hormone replacement therapy, but we found that only 10 percent of the ER+ genes overlapped.  We were able to identify estrogen-regulated genes specific to ER+ ovarian cancer that are not shared with ER+ breast cancers. We believe these genes can be specifically targeted with new anti-estrogen therapies that could more effectively treat ER+ ovarian cancers.”

— Monique Spillman, M.D., Ph.D., Gynecologic Oncologist, University of Colorado Hospital; Assistant Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Spillman and her team now will begin to screen current anti-estrogen therapies against the newly identified ovarian cancer genes to identify the [biological] pathways and compounds relevant to the treatment for ER+ ovarian cancer.

This study looked at the effect of estrogen replacement therapy in mice that already possessed ER+ ovarian cancer cells. It did not test whether the estrogen replacement actually could cause the development of these cancer cells. The study also dealt only with estrogen replacement, which is linked to higher risks of ovarian cancer, not combined estrogen/progesterone therapy that is used with women who retain their uteruses.

This research is too early to draw implications for use of estrogen replacement therapy in women, Spillman cautions. “We cannot make clinical recommendations based on what is happening in mice,” says Spillman, one of just eight gynecological oncologists in Colorado. “Every woman is different and needs to talk to her doctor about the decision to use hormone replacement therapy.”

The study was funded by a Gynecologic Cancer Foundation Career Development Award and the Liz Tilberis Scholars Award from the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. This competitive award, a $450,000 three-year grant, is given to early-career researchers who are developing techniques for early diagnosis and improved care for women with ovarian cancer.

About the University of Colorado Cancer Center

The University of Colorado Cancer Center is the Rocky Mountain region’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. NCI has given only 40 cancer centers this designation, deeming membership as “the best of the best.” Headquartered on the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, UCCC is a consortium of three state universities (Colorado State University, University of Colorado at Boulder and University of Colorado Denver) and five institutions (The Children’s Hospital, Denver Health, Denver VA Medical Center, National Jewish Health and University of Colorado Hospital). Together, our 440+ members are working to ease the cancer burden through cancer care, research, education and prevention and control. Learn more at www.uccc.info.

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Additional Information:

Small Phase II Study Tests the Use of Fulvestrant in the Treatment of Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

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… University of Minnesota researchers evaluated the use of fulvestrant [Faslodex®] in women with recurrent ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer. …Using modified-RECIST criteria 13 patients (50%) achieved SD …[T]he University of Minnesota researchers concluded that fulvestrant is well-tolerated and efficacious. The researchers also noted that objective response rates are low, but disease stabilization was common.

It is well-known that the goal of treating recurrent ovarian cancer is disease control while minimizing toxicity. Previously, Fulvestrant (Faslodex®), a novel estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist, was proven clinically beneficial and well-tolerated in treating recurrent breast cancer. If a pathologist determines that a women’s ovarian cancer biopsy is estrogen receptor positive (ER+), there is a possibility that she may respond to anti-estrogen therapy.

On this basis, University of Minnesota researchers evaluated the use of fulvestrant in women with recurrent ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer. Patients with ER+, multiply recurrent ovarian or primary peritoneal carcinoma were eligible for trial enrollment if (i) they had measurable disease according to RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) criteria, or (ii) an abnormal and rising CA-125 blood test measurement. Treatment consisted of single agent fulvestrant, 500 mg IM (intramuscular) on Day 1, 250 mg IM on Day 15, and 250 mg IM on Day 29 and every 28 days thereafter until the patient experienced intolerance or disease progression. Disease response was assessed by monthly physical exams and CA-125 levels as well as bimonthly CT scans. The clinical trial primary endpoint was “clinical benefit” (CB) (i.e., CB=complete response (CR) + partial response (PR) + stable disease (SD)) at 90 days).

Pursuant to the phase II fulvestrant clinical trial, the study researchers reported the following:

  • Thirty-one women were enrolled and 26 women (median age of 61) met inclusion criteria and received at least one dose;
  • Patients received a median of 5 prior chemotherapeutic regimens (range: 2-13) prior to enrollment;
  • One patient experienced CR (4%), one patient experienced PR (4%), and 9 patients experienced SD (35%) using modified-Rustin criteria (CA-125 level);
  • Using modified-RECIST criteria 13 patients (50%) achieved SD;
  • The median time to disease progression was 62 days (mean 86 days); and
  • Grade 1 toxicity included headache (1 patient) and bromidrosis (2 patients).

Based upon the foregoing results, the University of Minnesota researchers concluded that fulvestrant is well-tolerated and efficacious. The researchers also noted that objective response rates are low, but disease stabilization was common.

Primary Source:  A phase II study of fulvestrant in the treatment of multiply-recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer; Argenta PA, Thomas SG, Judson PL et. al., Gynecol Oncol. 2009 Feb 22. [Epub ahead of print]

European Researchers Find Estrogen Receptor Gene Amplification Occurs Rarely in Ovarian Cancer

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“… ESR1 [gene] amplification is an uncommon mechanism for estrogen receptor overexpression in ovarian cancer occurring in about 2.1% of the total number of ovarian cancers. In general, this frequency parallels the fraction of ovarian cancers reported to show complete response to antiestrogenic [anti-hormonal] therapies. Given the strong predictive power of ESR1 [gene] amplification for response to tamoxifen in breast cancer, an evaluation of such treatments in ESR1 [gene] amplified ovarian cancers appears justified.”

Abstract:

“Amplification of the gene encoding estrogen receptor-alpha occurs in about 20% of breast cancers and is an important mechanism for estrogen receptor overexpression in this tumor type. In ovarian cancer, overexpression of estrogen receptor protein has been described in more than two thirds of cases.

To study a potential role of estrogen receptor-alpha gene amplification for estrogen receptor overexpression in ovarian cancer, a tumor tissue microarray containing 428 ovarian cancers was analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH] for estrogen receptor-alpha gene amplification and immunohistochemistry [IHC] for estrogen receptor expression. The estrogen receptor-alpha gene status was successfully determined in 243 of 428 arrayed cancers.

Estrogen receptor gene amplification was found in 5 of 243 (2%) of tumors. Amplification levels were usually low, with 4-8 estrogen receptor-alpha gene copies. However, one case had a high-level amplification, with more than 30 estrogen receptor-alpha gene copies. All five amplified tumors were estrogen receptor positive, with 3 of 5 tumors showing highest (Allred score, 7-8) estrogen receptor levels. The data demonstrate that estrogen receptor-alpha amplification occurs only rarely in ovarian cancer.”

Article Discussion Points:

  • “The results of this study show that ESR1 amplification is rare in ovarian cancers (2.1%). More than one-third of ovarian tumors showed immunohistochemically detectable estrogen receptor protein expression, most abundant in serous and endometroid subtypes. This is in line with previous studies done on the classical paraffin blocks. The good concordance between our data and previous studies demonstrates the representation of our tumor tissue microarray data obtained on a 0.6 mm tissue spot per tumor and enhances the results of other studies used in this method.”
  • “A small subset of ESR1 [gene] amplified estrogen receptor-positive cases was indeed found in ovarian cancers. In comparison, some other genes showed higher rates of amplifications in these cancers. For example, the amplification of ERBB2 ranges (0-66%),  EGFR (3.65-12%),  CCND1 (0-19%), C-MYC up to 54.5,  and KRAS (31%).”
  • “The significant frequency of estrogen receptor positivity in ovarian cancers had prompted treatment efforts using hormonal therapy early on. In addition their relatively little toxicity was another provoking factor to continue going on to achieve more advance in this therapeutic field. Monotherapy studies using tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, and GnRH analogues had yielded variable results with objective response rates ranging between 0 and 56%.  Combinatorial treatment regimens combining tamoxifen and goserelin or tamoxifen and Gefitinib had obtained results with objective response rates of up to 11.5%.”
  • “The role of estrogen receptor expression for response prediction to anti-hormonal drugs has been much better studied in breast cancer, where a strong association between estrogen receptor positivity and response to anti-hormonal drugs is well established. … More than 20% of breast cancers had amplified or at least elevated ESR1 [gene] copy number. Possible explanations for the predictive effect of ESR1 [gene] amplification could be a particularly high expression of amplified as compared to non-amplified cancers. Alternatively, it could be speculated, that ESR1 [gene] amplified are more dependent on the estrogen receptor pathway than other tumors that express estrogen receptors together with many other growth receptors. If this latter hypothesis was true, visualization of ESR1 [gene] amplification would pinpoint toward an ‘Achilles tendon‘ of a tumor that could be most successfully targeted.”
  • “The frequency of ESR1 [gene] amplified ovarian cancers (2.1%) is much lower than that in breast cancer. Interestingly, this fraction somehow parallels the percentage of ovarian cancers reported to show strong responses to hormonal therapies.”
  • “For example, in retrospective analysis was conducted of patients who received tamoxifen at a dose 20 mg twice daily for the treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer,
    • Karagol et al found that out of 29 eligible patients included in the study, there were 1 (3%) complete response, 2 (7%) partial response, 6 (21%) stable disease, and 20 (69%) progressive disease.
    • Papadimitriou et al have studied response rate in 27 patients treated with letrozole at a dose of 2.5 mg once a day. Patients with measurable or evaluable disease (n=21) and those with only increasing CA-125 serum levels (n=6) were eligible. Among the 21 patients with measurable or evaluable disease, 1 complete response (5%) and 2 partial responses were observed (10%) for an objective response rate of 15%.
    • Other studies, in which the combined regiment had been implicated, patients were given oral tamoxifen 20 mg twice daily on a continuous basis and subcutaneous goserelin 3.6 mg once a month until disease progression. In total, 26 patients entered this study, of which 17 had platinum–resistant disease, using the definition of endocrine response that included patients with stable disease of 6 months or greater, the overall response rate (clinical benefit rate) was 50%. This included one complete response (3.8%), two partial responses (7.7%), and 10 patients with stable disease (38.5%).”
  • “In summary, ESR1 [gene] amplification is an uncommon mechanism for estrogen receptor overexpression in ovarian cancer occurring in about 2.1% of the total number of ovarian cancers. In general, this frequency parallels the fraction of ovarian cancers reported to show complete response to antiestrogenic [anti-hormonal] therapies. Given the strong predictive power of ESR1 [gene] amplification for response to tamoxifen in breast cancer, an evaluation of such treatments in ESR1 [gene] amplified ovarian cancers appears justified.”

Quoted Source:  Estrogen receptor gene amplification occurs rarely in ovarian cancer, Issa RM et. al., Mod Pathol. 2009;22(2):191-196, reprinted in From Modern Pathology, Medscape Today, February 18, 2009. [Free Medscape subscription required to view full text article.]

Comment:  This study indicates that the occurrence of estrogen positivity (ER+)/ESR1 gene amplification with respect to ovarian cancer is significantly lower than such occurrence in the breast cancer area.  Nevertheless, it is prudent to request your doctor to have your ovarian cancer tumor tissue tested by a pathologist for estrogen positivity or ESR1 gene amplification (through IHC or FISH testing, respectively).  If your ovarian cancer tissue tests ER+, you may respond to anti-estrogen drugs.  Although this type of pathology testing is commonplace in the breast cancer area, it is not in the ovarian cancer area due to the much lower percentage of ER+ ovarian cancer tumors.  As the study above notes, further research of anti-estrogen therapy use within the area of ovarian cancer is needed, especially given the potential high effectiveness and low toxicity of such therapies.

Working Smarter, Not Harder: Use of Anti-Estrogen Therapy to Battle Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

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The Gynecologic Oncology department of the University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center took a page out of the breast cancer treatment “playbook,” and conducted a single institution Phase II clinical trial using letrozole (Femara®) to treat recurrent, platinum and taxane resistant, high-grade cancer of the ovary and peritoneum. …The trial investigators concluded that 26% (8/31 pts.) of patients with ER+ … ovarian and primary peritoneal cancer derived a clinical benefit (stable disease (SD) + partial response (PR)) after treatment with letrozole (Femara®).

Pursuant to the breast cancer standard of care, breast tissue tumor is routinely analyzed to determine if it is “estrogen receptor positive” (ER positive or ER+), meaning that tumor growth is fueled by the hormone estrogen. It is well-known in the breast cancer area that hormonal therapy is a very effective treatment against breast cancer that is ER+. Sometimes referred to as “anti-estrogen therapy,” hormonal therapy blocks the ability of the hormone estrogen to turn on and stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells.

For decades, the anti-estrogen therapy of choice for treatment of ER+ breast cancer was tamoxifen. In 2005, several world-wide clinical trials reported that aromatase inhibitors (specifically, anastrozole (Arimidex®), exemestane (Aromasin®), and letrozole (Femara®) were more effective than tamoxifen in post-menopausal women with ER+ breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitor drug use is currently the standard of care for treatment of post-menopausal women with ER+ breast cancer, while tamoxifen remains the hormonal treatment of choice for pre-menopausal women.

The Gynecologic Oncology department of the University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center took a page out of the breast cancer treatment “playbook,” and conducted a single institution Phase II clinical trial using letrozole (Femara®) to treat recurrent, platinum and taxane resistant, high-grade cancer of the ovary and peritoneum.

Thirty-three patients enrolled in the Phase II clinical trial, and each had measurable disease that tested ER+ pursuant to trial eligibility criteria. Twenty-three patients (74%) had received three or more prior chemotherapy regimens. Letrozole (Femara®) was administered at a dose of 2.5 mg orally once daily until disease progression or toxicity occurred. The median patient age was 63 years (ranging from 38 to 83 years).

The 31 patients evaluable for response received a total of 81 cycles (4 weeks per cycle) of therapy (ranging from 1 to 14 cycles per patient). The median treatment duration was 8 weeks (ranging from 4 to 52 weeks). The trial investigators reported that (i) none of the patients had a complete response (CR), (ii) 1 (3%) had a partial response (PR), and (iii) 7 (23%) had stable disease (SD). The median duration of clinical benefit (SD and PR) was 9 weeks (ranging from 7 to 46 weeks). The median follow-up for all patients was 25 weeks. All evaluable patients were monitored for toxicity. The most common adverse effects were fatigue (36%) and diaphoresis (21%). No grade 3 or 4 toxicities were reported, and no patients discontinued treatment owing to adverse effects. Eighteen patients (58%) went on to receive additional therapy with other agents.

Based upon the results above, the trial investigators concluded that 26% (8/31 pts.) of patients with ER+, platinum- and taxane-resistant, high-grade ovarian and primary peritoneal cancer derived a clinical benefit (stable disease (SD) + partial response (PR)) after treatment with letrozole (Femara®).

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Comment: Based upon the references listed above and below, it appears that the opening of clinical trials that utilize anti-estrogen therapy to treat ER+ ovarian cancer is long overdue. The “take away” from the M.D. Anderson clinical trial study results is that an ovarian cancer survivor should request her doctor to test the ovarian cancer tumor tissue obtained from surgery or biopsy for estrogen receptor positivity, so as to determine if she is eligible to use anti-estrogen therapy (within the context of a clinical trial) as part of an overall cancer treatment plan.

It is important to note that letrozole is a low side effect, oral drug. Moreover, M.D. Anderson’s letrozole monotherapy produced a 26% clinical benefit rate among ER+, platinum- and taxane-resistant, ovarian and peritoneal cancer patients, despite the fact that approximately three-quarters of the clinical trial patients were heavily pretreated with multiple lines of chemotherapy prior to their trial enrollment. It is promising to consider the potential clinical benefit that could be generated by anti-estrogen therapy in a neoadjuvant or adjuvant ovarian cancer treatment setting.

Additional Anti-Estrogen Therapy/Ovarian Cancer References:

  • Estrogen-regulated gene expression predicts response to endocrine therapy in patients with ovarian cancer, Walker G et. al.; Gynecol Oncol. 2007 Sep;106(3):461-8. Epub 2007 Jul 10. (“OBJECTIVE: To explore the predictive value of estrogen-regulated gene changes as indicators of sensitivity in ovarian cancer patients treated with the aromatase inhibitor Letrozole. … CONCLUSION: These results suggest that expression levels of certain proteins in ovarian cancers are estrogen-regulated and could help identify patients who would benefit from endocrine therapy.” [i.e., anti-estrogen therapy])
  • Antiestrogen therapy is active in selected ovarian cancer cases: the use of letrozole in estrogen receptor-positive patients, Smyth JF et. al.; Clin Cancer Res. 2007 Jun 15;13(12):3617-22 (“PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole in preselected estrogen receptor (ER)-positive relapsed epithelial ovarian cancer patients and to identify markers that predict endocrine-sensitive disease. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: This was a phase II study of letrozole 2.5 mg daily until clinical or marker evidence of disease progression in previously treated ER-positive ovarian cancer patients with a rising CA125 that had progressed according to Rustin’s criteria. The primary end point was response according to CA125 and response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) criteria. Marker expression was measured by semiquantitative immunohistochemistry in sections from the primary tumor. RESULTS: Of 42 patients evaluable for CA125 response, 7 (17%) had a response (decrease of >50%), and 11 (26%) patients had not progressed (doubling of CA125) following 6 months on treatment. The median time taken to achieve the CA125 nadir was 13 weeks (range 10-36). Of 33 patients evaluable for radiological response, 3 (9%) had a partial remission, and 14 (42%) had stable disease at 12 weeks. Eleven patients (26%) had a PFS of >6 months. Subgroup analysis according to ER revealed CA125 response rates of 0% (immunoscore, 150-199), 12% (200-249), and 33% (250-300); P = 0.028, chi(2) for trend. Expression levels of HER2, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5, trefoil factor 1, and vimentin were associated with CA125 changes on treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study of a hormonal agent in a preselected group of ER-positive ovarian cancer patients. A signature of predictive markers, including low HER2 expression, predicts response.)
  • The efficacy of tamoxifen in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer, Karagol H et. al.; Med Oncol. 2007;24(1):39-43 (“BACKGROUND: Activity of tamoxifen as a salvage therapy in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer was evaluated by a number of studies. In this study, we evaluated efficacy of tamoxifen in our patients with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian carcinoma. … RESULTS: Twenty-nine eligible patients were included to the study. There were 1 (3%) complete response, 2 (7%) partial response, 6 (21%) stable disease, and 20 (69%) progressive disease. All patients were progressed after initiation of tamoxifen. Median progression-free survival was 4 mo (95% CI: 2.98-5.02). Disease progression of 19 (65%) patients were shown within the first 6 mo after initiation of tamoxifen. Progression-free survival was between 6 and 12 mo for 7 (24%) patients and > or =12 mo for 3 (10%) patients. The median survival after initiation of tamoxifen was 15 mo (95% CI: 7.2-22.8). No toxicity attributable to tamoxifen was seen in any of the patients. The only independent prognostic factor that had a significant predictive value for progression- free survival was the response to tamoxifen treatment (p = 0.043, hazard ratio: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.01-0.94). CONCLUSION: Considering minimal side effects and ability to cause objective responses, there is a place for tamoxifen in treatment of patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. A phase III trial is required to confirm the value of the drug in patients presenting these clinical settings.”)
  • Anastrozole therapy in recurrent ovarian adult granulosa cell tumors: a report of 2 cases, Freeman SA, Modesitt SC; Gynecol Oncol. 2006 Nov;103(2):755-8. Epub 2006 Jul 25 (“BACKGROUND: Ovarian sex cord stromal tumors are frequently hormonally active, and adult granulosa cell tumors often demonstrate estrogen receptor positivity. Thus, hormonal agents have been evaluated as potential treatments for advanced stage or recurrent adult granulosa cell tumors. CASE: Two cases of patients with recurrent adult granulosa cell tumors are presented. Each patient received multiple treatment modalities including chemotherapy and had previously progressed on leuprolide. Both patients were started on anastrozole with subsequent normalization of inhibin B levels and clinical exams. They have been maintained on treatment for 14 and 18 months, respectively, and have tolerated the drug without difficulty. CONCLUSION: Aromatase inhibitors may be a viable treatment option for women with advanced stage or recurrent ovarian adult granulosa cell tumors.”)
  • Hormonal therapy in epithelial ovarian cancer, Rao GG, Miller DS; Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2006 Jan;6(1):43-7. (“The ovary is an endocrine and end organ. Hormones and their receptors have been associated with ovarian cancer and may be related to its causation. Some data suggest that hormonal therapies may have an effect on ovarian cancer in palliative settings. The most well studied anticancer drugs are tamoxifen, megestrol acetate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, leuprolide acetate, anastrozole and letrozole. Presently, no hormonal therapy is approved by the US FDA for the treatment of any type of ovarian malignancy or is listed as an active agent by any of the authoritative compendia. Owing to the endocrine associations with ovarian cancer, the minimal side effects of hormonal therapy and the demonstrated activity of hormonal therapies in other endocrine organ-associated malignancies, further study of hormonal therapies for ovarian cancer is warranted.”)
  • Aromatase expression in ovarian epithelial cancers, Cunat S et. al.; J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2005 Jan;93(1):15-24 (” … Aromatase activity was evaluated in ovarian epithelial cancer (OEC) cell lines by the tritiated water assay and the effects of third-generation aromatase inhibitors (AIs) on aromatase activity and growth were studied. Letrozole and exemestane were able to completely inhibit aromatase activity in BG1 and PEO14 cell lines. Interestingly, both AI showed an antiproliferative effect on the estrogen responsive BG1 cell line co-expressing aromatase and ERalpha. Aromatase expression was found in ovarian epithelial normal tissues and in some ovarian epithelial cancer cells and tissues. This finding raises the possibility that some tumors may respond to estrogen and provides a basis for ascertaining an antimitogenic effect of AI in a subgroup of ovarian epithelial cancers.”)
  • Hormone therapy in epithelial ovarian cancer, Makar AP; Endocr Relat Cancer. 2000 Jun;7(2):85-93 (“Although epidemiologic studies, animal experiments and receptor studies have shown that not only normal ovaries but also many malignant ovarian tumors can be considered as endocrine related and hormone dependent, the place of hormonal therapy in the management of patients with ovarian cancer remains unsettled. Most trials of hormonal treatment in ovarian cancer have been retrospective, involved only limited numbers of patients, and lacked important patient-related data and information pertaining to tumor characteristics. In addition, a variety of hormonal preparations with different degrees of potency and in different dosages were included in these studies. A literature review shows that response to hormonal therapy even in a preterminal setting, is modest, with about 8% objective response but almost no side effects. In a similar patient setting, more toxic therapeutic agents do not yield a better response. The place of hormonal therapy in the management of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer needs more thorough evaluation in well-designed randomized trials.”)