Dr. Burgess on the Integration of PARP Inhibitors in Prostate Cancer

Earle Burgess, MD, associate professor of medicine, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, discusses the integration of PARP inhibitors in advanced prostate cancer. 

The FDA approvals of the PARP inhibitors olaparib (Lynparza) and rucaparib (Rubraca) in patients with advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer were significant additions to the armamentarium of available options for this patient population, Burgess says. Moreover, the percentage of patients that have underlying germline or somatic aberrations, or homologous recombination repair genes are particularly affected by these efficacious agents, based on the results from the phase 2 TRITON2 study (NCT02952534), Burgess explains.

In addition to efficacy, the availability of PARP inhibitors makes them a preferred choice for patients. Olaparib and rucaparib are given as oral treatments and have demonstrated improved safety compared with taxane-based chemotherapy, Burgess concludes.