Repurposed drug may extend survival in aggressive ovarian cancer, trial shows

Relacorilant, typically used to treat Cushing’s syndrome, could improve outcomes in platinum-resistant cases

A drug originally used to treat a rare disease could extend the lives of patients with an aggressive form of ovarian cancer, according to a clinical trial.

Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer occurs when the disease progresses within six months of starting platinum-based chemotherapy. This form of chemotherapy is different from other types because it uses compounds that contain platinum to destroy cancer cells by preventing them from dividing.

On average, patients with ovarian cancer that is resistant to this type of chemotherapy are typically expected to survive for only a year after diagnosis, and their treatment options are limited.

A study published in the Lancet analysed data from 381 patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Participants received either usual treatment or relacorilant, a pill used to treat Cushing’s syndrome, a condition caused by excessive levels of the hormone cortisol.