Ovarian cancer is a disease in which malignant cancerous cells are found near or on the ovaries. It is a leading cause of gynecologic cancer mortality worldwide and responsible for over 150,000 deaths each year (1). Standard-of-care treatment for newly diagnosed women involves surgery and adjuvant platinum- and taxane-based combination chemotherapy; however, 80% of patients will relapse during or after treatment with eventual drug resistant disease (2). Unmet need is considerable, and we are working to develop novel, targeted therapies for women with ovarian cancer.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia and is the leading cause of mortality from leukemia in the United States. Despite recent treatment advances, outcomes for patients with AML remain unacceptable as most patients are difficult to cure. Novel targeted therapies provide patients the potential for greater cure rates and less burden of toxicity.
Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare form of blood cancer that has features of both leukemia and lymphoma. The treatment options for patients with BPDCN are limited; response to treatment is short and second remission with conventional chemotherapy is difficult to achieve. Although there is no standard of care yet, recent targeted therapies suggest the potential for a brighter future for these patients.