Hundreds of women with hard-to-treat ovarian cancer are set to be offered a new treatment following its approval for NHS use.
A significant proportion of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at advanced stages, meaning it is harder to treat.
For women with a certain form of late-stage disease which has stopped responding to chemotherapy, options were previously "limited," experts noted, describing the decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) as "landmark."
Final draft guidance from Nice says that mirvetuximab soravtansine can now be used for women with certain forms of ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal cancers. This marks the first new ovarian cancer treatment approved for use on the NHS in 20 years.
Nice said that until recently there have been limited options for treating these types of folate receptor-alpha-positive platinum-resistant epithelial cancers when they stop responding to traditional chemotherapy.
Victoria Clare, chief executive officer of the charity Ovacome, said: “Today marks a landmark moment. Being told that platinum-based chemotherapy is no longer working can bring anxiety and uncertainty, particularly when the disease is at an advanced stage, where time and options are limited.
“This recommendation is the first in over 20 years to offer the ovarian cancer community an additional choice at a critical stage, with the potential to make a real difference to patients and their families.”
The new treatment, which is also called Elahere and developed by AbbVie, is a targeted therapy which works by attaching to cancer cells and destroying them, with these forms of treatments sometimes described as a “biological missile” or “Trojan horse” therapy.
Clinical trials have shown the drug, which is given by a drip once every three weeks, can improve survival among patients by around four months on average, compared with those who have chemotherapy alone.
NHS England said that 400 patients in England each year could benefit.
Main symptoms of ovarian cancer
NHS
Symptoms of ovarian cancer include frequently having:
- a swollen tummy or feeling bloated
- pain or tenderness in your tummy or the area between your hips (pelvic pain)
- no appetite or feeling full quickly after eating
- an urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often
Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:
- indigestion
- constipation or diarrhoea
- back pain
- feeling tired all the time
- losing weight without trying
- unusual bleeding from the vagina, including between periods, heavier periods or after the menopause
“This represents the most significant breakthrough in NHS treatment for these hard-to-treat ovarian cancers in over two decades – and we’re delighted it will now offer hundreds of women much-needed hope of precious extra time with their loved ones,” said Professor Ruth Plummer, NHS England’s national clinical lead for cancer drugs.
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said: “We heard clearly from patients and clinicians about the very limited options available at this stage of the disease, and the substantial burden that chemotherapy places on women’s lives. We are pleased that, following a robust process and a new commercial arrangement with AbbVie, we are now able to recommend this treatment for NHS use.”
A former NHS worker who is taking the drug described how chemotherapy left her bed-bound but the new treatment has let her “get on with my life”.
Patricia Hill, 64, a retired NHS physiotherapist from north London, who began treatment in January this year, said: “Previously, I’ve had three different lines of chemotherapy, and this is the first time that I’ve actually been able to get on with my life in terms of the impact of side effects.
“The feelings of isolation and loneliness that you have undergoing conventional chemotherapy are totally or more or less totally eradicated when using mirvetuximab.
“It actually adds life to years, rather than spending your life in bed recovering from the side effects of chemotherapy.”
Rachel Downing, head of policy and external affairs at Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “This is a hugely important moment for women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and their families, who have faced limited effective treatment options for far too long. Today’s announcement offers real hope of improved quality of life.
