PARP inhibitors are an exciting new wave of treatment for women with ovarian cancer. SurvivorNet’s extensive conversations with some of the top gynecologic oncologists in the country reveal that PARP inhibitors are rapidly becoming an integral part of comprehensive ovarian cancer treatment for an ever-growing number of women. Traditionally, these drugs have only been used in treatment for women who have a mutation in a gene, BRCA, which makes them susceptible to the genetic pathway which PARPs employ. As doctors find new applications for PARP inhibitors, however, the use of this class is only expanding,
These drugs have now been shown to be an effective treatment for women across the progression of ovarian cancer, from initial treatment to recurrence. Up until recently, PARP existed primarily as a treatment for ovarian cancer that had recurred and as a form of so-called maintenance therapy, which is given after an initial surgery and one or more rounds of chemotherapy. During this phase, PARP inhibitors help to maintain ovarian cancer in its depleted state following initial treatment, help to extend the length of time before a new recurrence emerges, and sometimes even help to turn a temporary remission into a long-term cure.
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.
How PARP Inhibitors Work
PARP inhibitors work by blocking an enzyme—known as PARP—used by cells to repair damage to their DNA. Without normally-functioning PARP, tumor cells will accumulate more and more DNA damage, and will eventually die. If you’ve been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you should ask your physician about PARP inhibitors, says Dr. Oliver Dorigo, a Gynecologic Oncologist at Stanford Medical School. According to Dorigo, “We encourage all of our patients to bring up a discussion about PARP inhibitors with their physicians.”
Despite their clear effectiveness in the maintenance phase of ovarian cancer patients, only 50% of women eligible to receive PARP inhibitors do so, says Dr. Dorigo. He believes this may largely be due to a lack of information about the potential benefits of the treatments. “We need to educate our patients and our providers about the usefulness of these drugs,” asserts Dorigo.
Learn more about the side effects of PARP inhibitors here.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Oliver Dorigo is a gynecologic oncologist at Stanford University Medical Center. Read More
PARP inhibitors are an exciting new wave of treatment for women with ovarian cancer. SurvivorNet’s extensive conversations with some of the top gynecologic oncologists in the country reveal that PARP inhibitors are rapidly becoming an integral part of comprehensive ovarian cancer treatment for an ever-growing number of women. Traditionally, these drugs have only been used in treatment for women who have a mutation in a gene, BRCA, which makes them susceptible to the genetic pathway which PARPs employ. As doctors find new applications for PARP inhibitors, however, the use of this class is only expanding,
These drugs have now been shown to be an effective treatment for women across the progression of ovarian cancer, from initial treatment to recurrence. Up until recently, PARP existed primarily as a treatment for ovarian cancer that had recurred and as a form of so-called maintenance therapy, which is given after an initial surgery and one or more rounds of chemotherapy. During this phase, PARP inhibitors help to maintain ovarian cancer in its depleted state following initial treatment, help to extend the length of time before a new recurrence emerges, and sometimes even help to turn a temporary remission into a long-term cure.
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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.
How PARP Inhibitors Work
PARP inhibitors work by blocking an enzyme—known as PARP—used by cells to repair damage to their DNA. Without normally-functioning PARP, tumor cells will accumulate more and more DNA damage, and will eventually die. If you’ve been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you should ask your physician about PARP inhibitors, says Dr. Oliver Dorigo, a Gynecologic Oncologist at Stanford Medical School. According to Dorigo, “We encourage all of our patients to bring up a discussion about PARP inhibitors with their physicians.”
Despite their clear effectiveness in the maintenance phase of ovarian cancer patients, only 50% of women eligible to receive PARP inhibitors do so, says Dr. Dorigo. He believes this may largely be due to a lack of information about the potential benefits of the treatments. “We need to educate our patients and our providers about the usefulness of these drugs,” asserts Dorigo.
Learn more about the side effects of PARP inhibitors here.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Oliver Dorigo is a gynecologic oncologist at Stanford University Medical Center. Read More
