New targeted therapy investigated for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer
At ESGO 2026, the first results of an early clinical trial of a new drug called TUB-040 in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer were examined. This is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) – a targeted therapy that specifically recognizes cancer cells and transports a powerful cytotoxin directly to them.
TUB-040 is an ADC that targets a protein called NaPi2b (sodium-dependent phosphate transport protein 2B). NaPi2b is a transporter that regulates phosphate in tissues such as the lung and intestine and is more abundant at the cell surface in high-grade serous ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
What was the study about?
The NAPISTAR 1-01 study is an early Phase 1/2a study that is primarily testing
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how well a new medication is tolerated and
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which dosage is suitable.
A total of 67 patients with platinum-resistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer were treated. Many of them had already received several therapies, on average four previous treatments, often including bevacizumab or PARP inhibitors.
What results were observed?
The results are very promising for an early study:
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A confirmed tumor reduction was found in 50% of the patients.
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Overall, the disease was at least stabilized in 96% of patients.
In addition, many of the observed treatment responses were still ongoing at the time of the evaluation, so the final results are still pending.
Side effects
The treatment was generally well tolerated. The most common side effects included nausea, fatigue and changes in blood values. Severe side effects were relatively rare. It is also important to note that no serious problems such as pneumonia, nerve damage or eye problems were observed.
What does this mean for patients?
The results show that TUB-040 could be a potential new treatment option for patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, especially for those who have already failed multiple treatments.
However, this is still an early phase 1/2 study. The drug therefore still needs to be investigated in larger studies before a decision can be made as to whether it will be used regularly in the future.
Source: Publication (the article is in English)
