The new class of ovarian cancer drugs called PARP inhibitors, which so far includes olaparib, rucaparib, and niraparib, is giving women — especially those with specific tumor makeups — an exciting sense of hope. PARP inhibitors are available to almost all women, though women with BRCA gene mutations or who are HRD proficient may benefit the most from these drugs. However, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) released new guidelines recommending PARP inhibitors be offered to women, with or without genetic mutations, who are newly diagnosed with stage III or IV ovarian cancer and have improved with chemotherapy.
If your doctor does not bring up PARP inhibitors early-on during the course of your treatment, you should absolutely ask. Having this conversation could be vital to your long-term and progression-free survival.
Poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor drugs work by preventing cancer cells that have been damaged — often during the course of chemotherapy treatment — from naturally healing. Because the drugs work by blocking the healing process, they were typically used in the “maintenance” period of ovarian cancer treatment, after a woman has already undergone chemotherapy and possibly surgery. When used as maintenance therapy, PARP inhibitors can potentially prevent recurrence and prolong remission — possibly forever.
Having said that, the effect a PARP inhibitor may have on your specific ovarian cancer will vary greatly depending on the specific genetic makeup of your tumor — making it necessary for your doctor to carefully choose the right time to prescribe one of these drugs.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Colleen McCormick is a gynecologic oncologist with Legacy Cancer Institute. Read More
The new class of ovarian cancer drugs called PARP inhibitors, which so far includes olaparib, rucaparib, and niraparib, is giving women — especially those with specific tumor makeups — an exciting sense of hope. PARP inhibitors are available to almost all women, though women with BRCA gene mutations or who are HRD proficient may benefit the most from these drugs. However, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) released new guidelines recommending PARP inhibitors be offered to women, with or without genetic mutations, who are newly diagnosed with stage III or IV ovarian cancer and have improved with chemotherapy.
If your doctor does not bring up PARP inhibitors early-on during the course of your treatment, you should absolutely ask. Having this conversation could be vital to your long-term and progression-free survival.
Read More
Poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor drugs work by preventing cancer cells that have been damaged — often during the course of chemotherapy treatment — from naturally healing. Because the drugs work by blocking the healing process, they were typically used in the “maintenance” period of ovarian cancer treatment, after a woman has already undergone chemotherapy and possibly surgery. When used as maintenance therapy, PARP inhibitors can potentially prevent recurrence and prolong remission — possibly forever.
Having said that, the effect a PARP inhibitor may have on your specific ovarian cancer will vary greatly depending on the specific genetic makeup of your tumor — making it necessary for your doctor to carefully choose the right time to prescribe one of these drugs.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Colleen McCormick is a gynecologic oncologist with Legacy Cancer Institute. Read More
