Treatment of ovarian cancer that increases the quality of life

Lead researcher

Ms Emily Chan, PhD student at the University of Melbourne

Main finding

Combined treatment with paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic, and momelotinib, a specific inhibitor of a key biochemical pathway, reduced the tumor burden in mice injected with human ovarian cancer cell lines, significantly greater than that achieved by paclitaxel-treatment alone.
Continuation of momelotinib after termination of paclitaxel treatment showed sustained inhibition
of tumor growth and a prolonged disease-free survival period.

Centre

Centre for Reproductive Health

Research group

Ovarian biology

Co-authors

Dr Rodney Luwor
Dr Christopher Burns
Professor George Kannourakis
Professor Jock Findlay*
Professor Nuzhat Ahmed*

* Members of the Ovarian Biology Group at the Hudson Institute

Journal and article title

Most surprising

The treatment combination of paclitaxel and momelotinib in a mouse model of ovarian cancer is novel.

Future implications

These preliminary findings in a mouse model may have a profound clinical impact in developing an
effective momelotinib-based ‘maintenance-therapy’ in ovarian cancer patients’ postchemotherapy
treatment. Since both drugs are cleared for use in humans, this should facilitate transition to clinical trials.

Disease/health impact

Ovarian cancer

Other points of interest

It is important to emphasize that this is not a potential cure for ovarian cancer, but a method to reduce the tumor burden and increase the remission period after treatment.