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Introduction Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological cancer in developed countries. The ESGO/ESTRO/ESP updated evidence-based guidelines in 2020, introducing molecular classification to guide EC treatment. The genomic-based approach has identified four prognostic subgroups of EC. Each of these may benefit from a tailored treatment depending on the molecular profile, the histotype, and stage of disease for the adjuvant and the metastatic/recurrent setting. Several clinical trials are now ongoing to identify the best treatment according to the molecular profile of EC. Areas covered This review analyzes tailored treatment for EC according to the molecular profile, both in the adjuvant and in the metastatic/recurrent setting. The authors review the results of clinical studies and highlight ongoing trials. Expert opinion Several new agents are under evaluation in order to personalize EC treatment according to specific molecular profiles in the adjuvant, advanced, and recurrent settings. Clinical trials investigating the impact of molecular classification have yielded encouraging results. EC can no longer be considered a single tumor entity susceptible to a single treatment modality but rather be split into four distinct types, requiring tailored treatments.

ObjectiveCorrelation between BRCA1/2 (BRCA) pathogenic variants and the response to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) has been recognized in patients with ovarian cancer. Moreover, data on the clinical implications of variants of unknown significance are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in survival outcomes in patients with BRCA variants of unknown significance, mutated, and wild type relapsed ovarian cancer treated with PARPi. MethodsPatients with ovarian cancer whose somatic BRCA testing was available and who were receiving PARPi as maintenance treatment at the first recurrence between January 2014 and January 2021 were included in the present study and analyzed. Patients were divided into three groups according to BRCA mutational status (variant of unknown significance, mutated, and wild type). Progression-free survival was assessed in each study group. ResultsOf 67 patients identified, 20 (29.9%), 24 (35.8%), and 23 (34.3%) had BRCA variant of unknown significance, mutated, and wild type, respectively. Patients received PARPi as maintenance treatment at the time of the first relapse after a complete response or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy without differences in the previous platinum-free interval among the analyzed groups. The median progression-free survival of patients with BRCA mutation was significantly longer than for those with BRCA wild type or variant of unknown significance (not reached vs 4 months vs 7 months, respectively; p<0.001). Additionally, no significant difference was found between patients with BRCA wild type and BRCA variant of unknown significance (p=0.50). ConclusionOur study suggests that carriers of BRCA variant of unknown significance have survival outcomes comparable to patients with BRCA wild type and shorter progression-free survival than women harboring BRCA pathogenic variants.

Objective Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis has become an essential tool for endometrial carcinoma management. Moreover, molecular-driven therapies play an increasingly remarkable role in the era of precision oncology. This study aims to determine the clinical relevance of NGS testing in endometrial carcinoma management by analyzing the clinical benefit of NGS-driven targeted therapies. Methods A single-center retrospective study was conducted on 25 endometrial carcinoma patients who underwent Foundation Medicine CDx assay at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS (Rome, Italy). Tumor samples were analyzed by Foundation One CDx. A descriptive analysis of tumor genome profiles was performed. Assessment of clinical benefit according to RECIST 1.1 criteria was analyzed for patients who received a tailored treatment according to actionable targets identified by NGS testing. Results Out of 25 endometrial carcinoma patients, 11 received targeted therapy. One patient was excluded from the clinical benefit assessment because of COVID-19-related death 1 month after starting the treatment. Eight of the remaining 10 patients benefited from targeted therapies, with an overall clinical benefit rate of 80%. A targeted agent belonging to the PI3K pathway was given to seven patients, with evidence of three partial responses (42.9%), three stable diseases (42.9%), and one progressive disease (14.2%) according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. One complete response (33.3%), one stable disease (33.3%), and one progressive disease (33.3%) were observed in the three patients treated with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors according to their homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) status. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of characterizing the mutation profile of patient tumors through NGS. Our findings suggest a clinical benefit of using NGS-driven targeted therapies in endometrial carcinoma patients. However, this personalized approach cou

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have completely reshaped the treatment of many malignancies, with remarkable improvements in survival outcomes. In ovarian cancer (OC), however, this emerging class of drugs has not yet found a favorable use due to results from phase I and II studies, which have not suggested a substantial antitumoral activity of these agents when administered as monotherapy. Robust preclinical data seem to suggest that the combination ICIs with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPis) may result in a synergistic activity; furthermore, data from phase II clinical studies, evaluating this combination, have shown encouraging outcomes especially for those OC patients not suitable for platinum retreatment. While waiting for ongoing phase III clinical trial results, which will clarify the role of ICIs in combination with PARPis in the newly diagnosed OC, this review aims to summarize the preclinical data and clinical evidence available to date.

Lurbinectedin is an antitumor agent belonging to the natural marine-based tetrahydroisoquinoline family which has shown very promising clinical activity with a favorable safety profile in many types of cancer. Preclinical evidence showed that lurbinectedin inhibits active transcription and binds to GC-rich sequences, leading to irreversible degradation of RNA polymerase II and generation of single- and double-strand DNA breaks and, as a consequence, apoptosis of tumor cells. In addition, lurbinectedin has demonstrated modulation of the tumor microenvironment and activity against cancer cells harboring homologous recombination DNA repair deficiency. Although considerable improvements have been made in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer, most patients with advanced disease experience recurrence with a dismal prognosis due to chemotherapy (mainly platinum) resistance. Platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer remains a difficult-to-treat setting of disease, and currently, the exploration of new therapeutic approaches represents a main field of interest. Although the CORAIL phase III study did not meet its primary endpoint, the results suggest that lurbinectedin might be a valid alternative for patients that have exhausted therapeutic options. This article will focus on the clinical evidence, the most recent investigations, and the future perspective regarding the use of lurbinectedin in ovarian cancer.

The prognosis of patients with advanced endometrial cancer is poor with limited therapeutic options. Nevertheless, the integration of molecular features in the clinico-pathological classification of endometrial cancer has significantly refined prognostic risk groups, representing a major breakthrough not only in the management of the disease but also in treatment perspectives. New therapeutic compounds such as target therapies, immunotherapy, and hormonal therapies have emerged for this clinical setting. Furthermore, molecular-driven clinical trials may improve significantly the efficacy of new treatments selecting those patients who are highly likely to respond. This review aims at describing the state of the art of advanced stage III-IVa endometrial cancer management, providing also the most interesting clinical perspectives.

Simple Summary This review aims to analyze the emerging issue regarding PARP inhibitor's resistance in tumors and their consequence on disease prognosis and treatment. Besides, we evaluate possible strategies and new therapeutic approaches to overcome PARPis resistance. PolyADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPis) represent the first clinically approved drugs able to provoke "synthetic lethality" in patients with homologous recombination-deficient (HRD) tumors. Four PARPis have just received approval for the treatment of several types of cancer. Besides, another three additional PARPis underlying the same mechanism of action are currently under investigation. Despite the success of these targeted agents, the increasing use of PARPis in clinical practice for the treatment of different tumors raised the issue of PARPis resistance, and the consequent disease relapse and dismal prognosis for patients. Several mechanisms of resistance have been investigated, and ongoing studies are currently focusing on strategies to address this challenge and overcome PARPis resistance. This review aims to analyze the mechanisms underlying PARPis resistance known today and discuss potential therapeutic strategies to overcome these processes of resistance in the future.

Purpose. A practice synthesis of available evidence-based medicine data in ovarian cancer (OC), aiming to provide directions for future research. Materials and Methods. We performed a systematic review. PubMed was searched for relevant OC trials between January 2000 and December 2019. Results. Out of 865 references screened, 199 trials were found eligible for inclusion. Most trials were multicenter (83.9%). There was a trend reduction in the number of patients enrolled/per study over the years. Studies testing targeted/biological therapies dominated the second decade (60 trials in 2010-2019 versus 2 trials in 2000-2009). The proportion of trials with positive survival and clinical outcomes significantly increased from 23.8% in early 2000s to 54.1% in the last 5 years. Trials with histology/molecular biomarker criteria were more likely to meet progression-free survival endpoint than those without these selection criteria (69.2% versus 32.6%). Conclusion. This systematic review suggests a trend of increased positive studies, mainly linked to precision medicine.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between BRCA mutational status and response to bevacizumab in a large advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) series. Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective case-control study including upfront AOC treated between January 2015 and June 2019. The main inclusion criteria were: having received three weekly carboplatin-paclitaxel as first-line treatment, with or without Bevacizumab maintenance, knowledge of the BRCA mutational status. Results: Overall, 441 patients were included; 183 (41.5%) patients received bevacizumab (Cases), and 258 (58.5%) did not receive it (Controls). The BRCA mutated patients (BRCAmut) were 58 (39%) in the Cases group and 90 (34.9%) in the Controls group (p = .77). Patients who received bevacizumab had a significant 4-months increase in median progression free survival (mPFS: 21 vs. 17 months, p = .033). Concerning BRCAmut patients, no differences were shown between those who received bevacizumab or not in terms of mPFS (24 vs. 22 months, p = .3). Conversely, in BRCA wild-type (BRCAwt) population bevacizumab administration significantly prolonged mPFS (20 vs 15 months, p = .019). At multivariate analysis, independent factors of prolonged PFS were BRCA status (OR = 0.60), having received PDS (OR = 0.69), and complete cytoreduction (OR = 0.50), but not the bevacizumab administration (OR = 0.83, p = .22). Conclusions: No evidence of oncological benefit in terms of PFS and OS related to bevacizumab maintenance therapy was found in BRCAmut patients. Differently, BRCAwt patients seem to benefit from antiangiogenic treatment in terms of mPFS.

Introduction: Pembrolizumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor with high specificity for binding to the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor. It has been approved by the FDA in patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy whose tumors express the programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Areas covered: Clinical studies of pembrolizumab in cervical cancer were analyzed and discussed. Data were obtained by searching for English peer-reviewed articles on PubMed, clinical trials registered on clincaltrials.gov and related abstracts on the ASCO meeting library. The aim was to review the status of pembrolizumab, the published and ongoing trials, and its safety and efficacy. Expert opinion: Pembrolizumab may ultimately represent a treatment of choice for advanced cervical cancer with PD-L1 expression, both in metastatic and recurrent setting. However, it is essential to better identify and characterize patients that will benefit the most.