Dr. Graff on the Role of Checkpoint Inhibitors in Prostate Cancer

Julie Graff, MD, assistant professor of medicine, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, discusses the role of checkpoint inhibitors and PARP inhibitors for patients with prostate cancer.

According to Graff, there is potential for CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 to move into prostate cancer. However, there are 2 negative studies of ipilimumab (Yervoy). Therefore, that may not move forward unless it is combined with another therapy or patients are molecularly tested and it is determined as an appropriate form of therapy. There are multiple studies looking at PD-1 therapies in combination.

Additionally, PARP inhibition for patients with tumors expressing DNA-repair defects is very promising, explains Graff. There is a trial out of the National Cancer Institute looking at the PARP inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza) with the PD-1 inhibitor durvalumab (Imfinzi) that is showing promising results.