Telmisartan for Ovarian Cancer

This trial tests the effectiveness of telmisartan, a medication typically used for high blood pressure, combined with standard chemotherapy treatments for ovarian cancer. The goal is to determine if this combination can extend the time patients live without their cancer worsening. It suits women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer that does not respond well to standard platinum-based treatments. Participants should be able to undergo standard chemotherapy and not have serious liver or heart conditions. As a Phase 2 trial, the research focuses on measuring the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group of people.

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot use ACE inhibitors like ramapril or have taken rituximab or amifostine within 30 days before starting telmisartan. It's best to discuss your current medications with the trial team.

Research has shown that telmisartan, a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure, may slow the growth of ovarian cancer cells and even cause them to die in lab studies. Telmisartan is already FDA-approved for high blood pressure, indicating it has been tested for safety in humans for that purpose.

However, results regarding the safety of drugs like telmisartan have been mixed. Some studies suggested a slight increase in cancer risk with similar medications, but further research did not confirm this link. Thus, telmisartan is generally considered safe for high blood pressure, but its safety for cancer treatment remains under study.

Researchers are excited about telmisartan for ovarian cancer because it offers a novel approach by combining with standard chemotherapy treatments. Unlike traditional treatments that solely rely on chemotherapy agents like doxorubicin or paclitaxel, telmisartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker, typically used for high blood pressure. Its unique mechanism may enhance chemotherapy effectiveness by potentially inhibiting cancer growth pathways and improving drug delivery to the tumor. This combination could lead to better outcomes for patients with ovarian cancer, offering new hope beyond current treatment options.

Studies have shown that telmisartan might help fight ovarian cancer by stopping cancer cells from growing and causing them to die. Research suggests that telmisartan can strengthen the body's immune response to cancer and lower inflammation, which often links to cancer progression. Some studies have associated telmisartan with fewer cases of ovarian cancer recurrence. While more research is needed to confirm these benefits, early findings suggest that telmisartan could be promising when used with standard chemotherapy. Participants in this trial will receive telmisartan combined with standard-of-care chemotherapy, which may include doxorubicin, paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel, or docetaxel.²⁴⁶⁷⁸