New Strategy for Overcoming Resistance to Chemotherapy of Ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is one of the most sensitive solid tumors, with objective responses ranging from 60 to 80% even in patients with advanced stage. However, most patients ultimately recur and develop resistance to chemotherapy. As a result, the survival rate for patients with ovarian cancer has not improved over the past 20 years. Resistance to chemotherapy presents a major obstacle to attempt to improve the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer. A new strategy is necessary to improve the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer. METHODS The mechanism of chemoresistance was reviewed to get over the resistance. Additionally, the biological characteristics of ovarian cancer and molecular-targeted agents including signal-transduction inhibitors and anti-angiogenesis were discussed. RESULTS Genetic diagnosis for chemosensitivity with drug-resistance genes may be a useful predictor. Unfortunately, molecular-targeted therapy alone has been insufficient to improve the prognosis for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Molecular molecular-targeted therapy should be carried out together with conventional cytotoxic agents. On the occasion of the use of the molecular targeted-agents, care of the appearance of the unexpected adverse effect should be important. CONCLUSION The future research in this field will enable to develop an effective strategy for conquest of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer.