Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in the management of ovarian cancer

Gabriella Ferrandina^1,2, Giacomo Corrado¹, Angelo Licameli¹, Domenica Lorusso², Gilda Fuoco¹, Salvatore Pisconti³, Giovanni Scambia^2
1Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology, Catholic University of Campobasso, Campobasso, Italy; ²Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy; ³Salvatore Pisconti, Oncology Unit, Taranto Hospital, Taranto, Italy

Abstract: Among the pharmaceutical options available for treatment of ovarian cancer, much attention has been progressively focused on pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), whose unique formulation, which entraps conventional doxorubicin in a bilayer lipidic sphere ­surrounded by a polyethylene glycol layer, prolongs the persistence of the drug in the ­circulation and potentiates intratumor drug accumulation. These properties enable this drug to sustain its very favorable toxicity profile and to be used safely in combination with other drugs. PLD has been already approved for treatment of advanced ovarian cancer patients failing first-line platinum-based treatment. Moreover, phase III trials have been already completed, and results are eagerly awaited, which hopefully will expand the range of PLD clinical application in this neoplasia both in front-line treatment, and in the salvage setting in combination with other drugs. Moreover, attempts are continuing to enable this drug to be combined with novel cytotoxic drugs and target-based agents. This review aims at summarizing the available evidence and the new perspectives for the clinical role of PLD in the management of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Keywords: pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, ovarian cancer, clinical trials