Highlights from the 2008 Meeting of ASCO

Researchers from cancer centers in the US and Europe have discovered a promising drug-MORAb-003- for treating women with epithelial ovarian cancer.  More than 90% of epithelial ovarian tumors overexpress folate receptor alpha (FRA), which plays a role in tumor growth. MORAb-003, a targeted treatment, works by blocking FRA. Unlike chemotherapy, targeted treatments attack specific molecules and cell mechamisms thought to be important for cancer cell survival and growth. This specific targeting helps to spare healthy tissues and causes less severe side effects.  Based on these promising early results, additional clinical trials of MORAb-003 with chemotherapy are planned.