OBJECTIVES: To understand the real-world treatment patterns of patients with platinum-resistant or -refractory ovarian cancer.

METHODS: Real-world data were gathered using Adelphi’s Disease-Specific Programme^TM—a cross-sectional survey conducted in the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK from December 2017-March 2018. 340 physicians provided data for 657 patients with advanced ovarian cancer classified as platinum resistant (PR; progression within 6 months following frontline therapy [n=259]) or platinum refractory (PRR; progression during frontline therapy [n=398]). Summary statistics were reported and descriptively analyzed.

RESULTS: Patients had a mean age of 63 years; 59% reported an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1. All patients received platinum-based frontline therapy; paclitaxel+carboplatin/cisplatin was the most common regimen (PR, 59%; PRR, 56% of patients). Regimens including bevacizumab (monotherapy or in combination) were prescribed to 30% of both PR (n=78) and PRR (n=118) patients as frontline therapy). 56% of PR and 59% of PRR patients received drug-based maintenance, most commonly regimens including bevacizumab (PR, 83%; PRR, 88% of patients).

As second-line therapy, 50% and 39% of PR and PRR patients, respectively, received a second platinum-based regimen. Liposomal doxorubicin–based regimens were also commonly prescribed (PR, 23%; PRR, 28% of patients); bevacizumab-based regimen prescribing was low (PR, 15%; PRR, 17%). Use of poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) was limited (PR, 5%; PRR, 5%). 18% of PR and 12% of PRR patients received second-line drug-based maintenance; among these, PARPi prescribing was common (PR, 43%; PRR, 40%). CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of real-world treatment patterns indicates ongoing use of platinum-based regimens for patients known to be platinum resistant or refractory. This underscores the need for research and approval of more-effective therapies.