Dr. Chern on Outcomes With PARP Inhibitors in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Jing-Yi Chern, MD, ScM, a gynecologic oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center, discussesoutcomes with PARP inhibitors in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. 

Two trials, the phase 3 ENGOT-OV16/NOVA (NCT01847274) and SOLO-2 (NCT01874353) trials, shed light on the use of these agents in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer, Chern says. These patients likely have not received treatment with PARP inhibition in the frontline setting. As such, the goal is to increase the platinum-free interval, because the impact of a long interval can improve overall outcomes, including survival, Chern explains.

Both studies show that PARP inhibition allows for that improvement, Chern notes. Additionally, patients whose tumors harbored a germline BRCA mutation who were included in the NOVA study experienced a median PFS pf 21.0 months with the PARP inhibitor niraparib (Zejula) vs 5.5 months with placebo, Chern concludes.