Can relacorilant and nab-paclitaxel help patients with platinum-resistant Ovarian Cancer?
Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer is difficult to treat because the cancer no longer responds to platinum-based chemotherapy. The combination of relacorilant (a selective glucocorticoid receptor modulator) and nab-paclitaxel (a chemotherapy drug) has been studied specifically for this type of cancer. Clinical trials show that this combination can improve how long patients live without their cancer growing, and may also extend overall survival compared to nab-paclitaxel alone.
What the research says
A phase 2 study randomly assigned 178 women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer to receive either nab-paclitaxel alone, nab-paclitaxel plus continuous relacorilant, or nab-paclitaxel plus intermittent relacorilant. The intermittent relacorilant group had significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) and duration of response compared to nab-paclitaxel alone, with a hazard ratio for PFS of 0.66 10. Overall survival also favored the intermittent combination 10.
These findings led to the phase 3 ROSELLA trial, which enrolled over 380 patients across 14 countries. Results showed that relacorilant plus nab-paclitaxel significantly improved PFS compared to nab-paclitaxel monotherapy 79. The final overall survival analysis also demonstrated a significant benefit for the combination 7. The trial protocol notes that the combination was designed to counteract cortisol's anti-apoptotic effects, potentially restoring chemotherapy sensitivity 11.
Importantly, the phase 2 study reported that the intermittent dosing schedule added minimal toxicity beyond what is expected from nab-paclitaxel alone 10. The phase 3 trial confirmed a manageable safety profile 79. While other studies have examined nab-paclitaxel in different cancers 2346, the specific combination with relacorilant is unique to ovarian cancer research.
What to ask your doctor
- Is the relacorilant plus nab-paclitaxel combination an option for my platinum-resistant ovarian cancer?
- What are the potential benefits in terms of progression-free and overall survival based on the ROSELLA trial?
- What side effects should I expect from this combination, and how are they managed?
- Does my cancer type (e.g., high-grade serous, endometrioid) and prior treatment history make me a candidate for this therapy?
- Are there any ongoing clinical trials or access programs for relacorilant and nab-paclitaxel?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Oncology and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.