The Evolving Arena of Ovarian Cancer Maintenance Therapy.

Based on the results of several phase 3 randomized trials, "maintenance therapy" (prolonged treatment after an initial response to cytotoxic chemotherapy) has assumed a critical role in the routine care of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. While earlier data had provided support for this therapeutic concept in disease management (e.g., multiple cycles of single-agent paclitaxel following a clinical complete response to a platinum/paclitaxel regimen), more recent data has revealed both the efficacy and safety of the anti-angiogenesis agent, bevacizumab, and several PARP inhibitors when employed in this clinical setting.