27 April 2016 - NICE has published final guidance for five ovarian cancer drugs. Three of the drugs are not recommended, the other two are, in certain circumstances.

The guidance recommends paclitaxel and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride (PLDH) for treating ovarian cancer that has returned after previous chemotherapy treatment. Paclitaxel can be used on its own, or in combination with platinum. PLDH can be used alone or alongside platinum – this use is currently outside of its licence but Ministers agreed that NICE could consider it.

An estimated 3,000 women may be eligible for these recommended treatments. The cost of a course of treatment over one year with paclitaxel alone is just over £3,600, and the cost for PLDH is around £8,500.

The guidance does not recommend gemcitabine hydrochloride, trabectedin or topotecan hydrochloride for treating the first recurrence of platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer – this is where the disease responds to first-line platinum-based therapy but returns after six months or more. Topotecan is also not recommended for treating cancer that has returned within six months of platinum treatment, or for cancer which did not respond to platinum treatment at all.

For more details, go to: https://www.nice.org.uk/News/Press-and-Media/nice-recommends-ovarian-cancer-treatments