Anti-angiogenic drugs currently in Phase II clinical trials for gynecological cancer treatment

Introduction: Numerous female patients suffer from gynecological cancers every year. When it comes to recurrent or chemoresistant cancers, there are limited treatment options. For decades, much enthusiasm has been shown for novel therapeutic strategies for cancers, and anti-angiogenesis agents appear to be a potential option. Since several promising angiogenesis inhibitors for certain cancers have been approved by Food and Drug Administration, more and more anti-angiogenic drugs are put into clinical trials. Areas covered: In this review, the anti-angiogenic agents in Phase II clinical trials for gynecological cancer treatment are highlighted. This review mainly focuses on 5-year reports on angiogenesis inhibitors concerning ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, uterine leiomysarcoma and endometrial cancer. Inhibitors reviewed in this paper include bevacizumab, volociximab, aflibercept, temsirolimus, enzastaurin, trebananib, sunitinib, imatinib, pazopanib, sorafenib and nintedanib. Expert opinion: These anti-angiogenic drugs while used either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, presented mixed results in treating gynecological cancers. The real challenge is how to take best advantage of the anti-angiogenesis hypothesis for therapeutic benefit. Much remains to be done before these molecules work efficaciously in treating gynecological cancer.