NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Antibody-drug conjugates for ovarian cancer with poor response to platinum therapy

Official title: Antibody-drug conjugates for the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer with a Suboptimal Response to Platinum-based Neoadjuvant Therapy

Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11421328 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A Mayo Clinic team is testing targeted antibody-drug conjugates to help people with advanced high-grade ovarian cancer who did not respond well to standard platinum-based treatment.

More Ovarian Cancer research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMayo Clinic Rochester
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Rochester, United States)
Project startJuly 1, 2009
Project endAugust 31, 2031
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$273,432
NIH project number2P50CA136393-16
Project IDNIH-11421328 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (or related peritoneal cancers) who showed suboptimal response to platinum-based neoadjuvant therapy.

Less likely to help

Patients whose disease is already responding well to standard therapy or who cannot tolerate antibody-drug conjugates may not benefit.

What this research studies

This project focuses on patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer who have suboptimal responses to neoadjuvant platinum therapy. Researchers are exploring antibody-drug conjugates that deliver potent cancer-killing drugs directly to tumor cells, aiming to improve tumor shrinkage and survival. The study builds on biomarkers that identify poor responders and uses TOP1-inhibiting ADCs to overcome resistance. The approach blends prior clinical signals with lab data to select promising treatment strategies for difficult-to-treat patients.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients with resistant ovarian cancer could experience better responses and longer, healthier lives.

How similar studies have gone: Other TOP1-inhibiting ADCs have shown activity in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, suggesting potential benefit with this approach.

Where this research is happening

  • Mayo Clinic Rochester
    Rochester, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Knutson, Keith L. — Mayo Clinic Rochester
  • Study coordinator: Knutson, Keith L.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.