Let's Talk It Ovar
In The News
PARP Inhibitor research presented at
American Society of Clinical Oncology 2009 Annual Conference
A new study investigated AstraZeneca PARP Inhibitor drug formerly known as AZD2281 and now known by the name “olaparib" for advanced ovarian cancer in BRCA mutation carriers. This phase II clinical trial studied women with known BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutations and recurrent ovarian cancer. In this study the PARP Inhibitor was given as a “single agent” (ie- with no other treatment) to women who had already received several previous courses of chemotherapy and had progression of their cancer on prior treatments. As in the breast cancer study, women in this trial were given one of two doses: a low dose (100 mg 2 times/day) or a high dose (400 mg 2 times/day). 33 were evaluable at 400 mg bd and 24 at 100 mg bd. The overall response rate was 33% at the higher dose(400 mg twice daily) and 12.5% at 100 mg twice daily dose. Of the women on the high dose, 58% experienced clinical benefit and 17% of the women on the lower dose experienced clinical benefit. Side effects were mild, and included nausea (44%); fatigue (35%); and anemia (14%). More serious side effects were rare and comprised primarily of nausea and low white blood cells. The researchers showed that olaparib is well tolerated and active in women with advanced ovarian cancer.
Although exciting, there is more research that is needed. Larger (phase III) studies will help show if PARP inhibitors can extend the life of women with advanced cancer. Future studies on women with early stage disease will be needed to determine if these medications might be used to prevent recurrence in women with early stage cancer.
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