A drug originally developed for a rare disease may help extend survival for patients with an aggressive form of ovarian cancer, according to a clinical trial.
The medicine, relacorilant, is typically used to treat Cushing’s syndrome. Researchers say it could improve outcomes in cases of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, a subtype that is especially hard to treat.
Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer is diagnosed when the disease progresses within six months of starting platinum-based chemotherapy. Platinum chemotherapy works by using compounds that contain platinum to destroy cancer cells and stop them from dividing.
The trial raises the possibility that a repurposed treatment could offer a new option for patients facing limited choices after standard chemotherapy stops working. Ovarian cancer that becomes resistant to platinum drugs is generally associated with poorer outcomes, which makes any potential advance in this area significant.
Relacorilant’s possible role in ovarian cancer is notable because it was not originally designed as a cancer drug. Instead, it has been used in the treatment of Cushing’s syndrome, a rare condition linked to high levels of cortisol.
The findings add to ongoing research into whether medicines developed for one condition can be redirected to treat another. In this case, scientists are looking at whether a drug used for a rare hormonal disorder can help patients with one of the more difficult forms of ovarian cancer.
The trial results suggest the approach may improve survival in platinum-resistant cases, though further evaluation would be needed before the treatment could be considered a standard option.
