City of Hope Orange County is committed to advancing comprehensive care for gynecologic cancer, offering personalized treatments and conducting clinical trials that bring patients leading-edge therapies — and new hope — long before they become the standard of care.
One of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, City of Hope conducts more than 800 clinical trials each year, more cancer-focused clinical trials than anywhere else in California. The advanced cancer research capabilities of City of Hope Orange County set it apart from other health care providers in the region.
Joshua G. Cohen, M.D., the medical director of City of Hope Orange County’s gynecologic cancer program, is involved in multiple clinical trials researching uses of targeted drugs in recurrent endometrial, cervical and ovarian cancers. Dr. Cohen practices at City of Hope Newport Beach, City of Hope Seacliff, and City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center — the most advanced comprehensive cancer center in Orange County.
CLN-619 alone and in conjunction with pembrolizumab for recurrent endometrial and ovarian cancer
Dr. Cohen is conducting a Phase 1 dose escalation study for CLN-619, an antibody that targets natural killer cells in the body. Researchers are assessing the drug alone and with pembrolizumab immunotherapy, specifically for patients with recurrent endometrial cancer and ovarian cancers.
The goal of a Phase 1 dose escalation study is to pinpoint the safest dosage in the most efficacious window for patients.
“The field of immunotherapy is advancing rapidly,” said Cohen. “Drugs that were once implemented in a recurrent cancer setting have been moved into initial cancer treatment, which can limit treatment options for those patients. This trial may help clinicians fill that gap and offer patients who have received prior immunotherapy treatments another way to fight cancer.”
Read more about the study here: A Study of CLN-619 Alone and in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Advanced Solid Tumors
GLORIOSA: mirvetuximab soravtansine with bevacizumab for recurrent ovarian cancer
Dr. Cohen is also involved with a clinical trial named GLORIOSA. The Phase 3 study examines the use of bevacizumab alone or in conjunction with mirvetuximab soravtansine, as a maintenance therapy for patients with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer if the tumor expresses folate receptor alpha. A platinum-sensitive cancer refers to a cancer that still responds to platinum chemotherapy.
In this clinical trial, eligible patients complete six cycles of chemotherapy. Then, they are randomly selected to either receive bevacizumab — which is the current standard of care — or bevacizumab in conjunction with mirvetuximab soravtansine, a therapy drug that targets the folate receptor alpha on the cancer cells.
In March, the FDA approved mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx for adult patients with advanced, FRα-positive, platinum-resistant ovarian cancers. This ongoing clinical trial aims to determine to determine the benefit of the drug as a maintenance therapy for recurrent platinum-sensitive tumors.
“This study is an opportunity to show how drugs that have been FDA-approved can show promise in other settings,” Dr. Cohen says. “Making this drug available earlier in ovarian cancer treatment may make a big difference. We know that patients with recurrent ovarian cancer live longer when they are offered clinical trials, and our mission is to offer that to our patients.”
Learn more about the clinical trial here: Mirvetuximab Soravtansine With Bevacizumab Versus Bevacizumab as Maintenance in Platinum-sensitive Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Peritoneal Cancer (GLORIOSA)
City of Hope offers Orange County’s most comprehensive program for gynecologic oncology and urogynecologic care. Patients receive exceptional support from diagnosis to survivorship, delivered by a multidisciplinary team of specialists who collaborate to provide an integrated, patient-centered approach to treat gynecologic cancer at every stage of disease.
First in research. First in treatment. First in survival. When it comes to cancer, it’s Hope First. Call (888) 333-HOPE (4673).