Chinese researchers publish major clinical study on ovarian cancer

A major Chinese clinical study on ovarian cancer has been published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, one of the world's highest-impact medical journal, marking a first for a Chinese researcher-led gynecological cancer trial, researchers said in Beijing on Sunday.

The phase III FZOCUS-1 study tested fluzoparib, a PARP inhibitor developed by Chinese pharmaceutical giant Hengrui Pharma. The trial evaluated the drug as a "maintenance" therapy, treatment given to prevent cancer recurrence after initial chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer, either alone or in combination with the targeted drug apatinib.

Conducted over six years at 54 hospitals across China, the randomized, double-blind trial enrolled 674 patients. Results showed that fluzoparib-based maintenance therapy significantly delayed disease progression compared with a placebo.

In the overall study population, patients receiving fluzoparib alone achieved a median progression-free survival of 29.9 months, the research team said.

The results were even more striking for patients with BRCA mutations. In this group, median progression-free survival reached 47.8 months, nearly three times that of the placebo group.

The study also found that patients with a specific generic marker of homologous recombination deficiency could benefit from fluzoparib alone, potentially allowing them to avoid the side effects and extra costs associated with combination therapy. Meanwhile, patients without this generic marker, who typically face poorer outcomes, showed encouraging results from the combination therapy of fluzoparib and apatinib.

"Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late and remains difficult to treat," Wu Lingying, the study's principal investigator from the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, said.

"This research, designed and completed entirely by Chinese teams, provides solid evidence that can help improve treatment decisions both in China and globally."

Ovarian cancer causes about 200,000 deaths worldwide each year. In China, around 61,000 women are diagnosed annually, with roughly 38,000 deaths, according to the research team.

Wang Quanren, vice-president of Hengrui Pharma, said the high-profile publication highlights the growing impact of China's drug innovation. He added that fluzoparib has been included in China's national medical insurance program since 2021, making the treatment more accessible to patients.

Researchers said the findings offer new, practical guidance for precision treatment of advanced ovarian cancer and underscore China's expanding role in global clinical research.