Anti-angiogenesis therapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer

Abstract

This invention concerns in general treatment of diseases and pathological conditions with anti-VEGF antibodies. More specifically, the invention concerns the treatment of human patients susceptible to or diagnosed with cancer using an anti-VEGF antibody, preferably in combination with one or more additional anti-tumor therapeutic agents for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a patient diagnosed with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer, comprising subjecting the patient to a treatment regimen combining paclitaxel and carboplatin with the concurrent administration of an effective amount of an anti-VEGF antibody followed by anti-VEGF antibody maintenance therapy, wherein the anti-VEGF antibody has a heavy chain variable region comprising the following amino acid sequence: 
       
         
           
                 
               
                   (SEQ ID NO. 1) 
                 
                   EVQLVESGGG LVQPGGSLRL SCAASGYTFT NYGMNWVRQA 
                 
                   PGKGLEWVGW INTYTGEPTY AADFKRRFTF SLDTSKSTAY 
                 
                   LQMNSLRAED TAVYYCAKYP HYYGSSHWYF DVWGQGTLVT VSS  
                 
             
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
       and a light chain variable region comprising the following amino acid sequence: DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCSASQDIS NYLNWYQQKP GKAPKVLIYF TSSLHSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTLTISSLQP EDFATYYCQQ YSTVPWTFGQ GTKVEIKR (SEQ ID NO. 2), and wherein the treatment regimen effectively extends the progression free survival of the patient. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-VEGF antibody is bevacizumab. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the paclitaxel is administered intravenously at 175 mg/m 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the carboplatin is administered intravenously at an area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of 4 or an AUC of 6. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the anti-VEGF antibody maintenance therapy is administered at 15 mg/kg. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the progression free survival of the patient is extended by at least about 2.3 months or more compared to another patient not treated with anti-VEGF antibody. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the anti-VEGF antibody is administered at 15 mg/kg. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the patient is diagnosed with Stage III or Stage IV recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the patient is diagnosed with recurrent platinum-sensitive primary peritoneal cancer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the patient is diagnosed with recurrent platinum-sensitive fallopian tube cancer.