ASCO - Parp Inhibitor and BRCA Mutation Studies

Part Three of my ASCO Report.

 Parp inhibitors (which inhibit the enzyme  poly ADP ribose polymerase) have been found in some cases to be effective in women with BRCA1 and 2 mutations. There have even been a few studies where the inhibitor was found to be effective in women without the mutation.

The Parp inhibitor abstract and BRCA 1& BRCA 2 abstract  were part of an ASCO Poster Session, while the last study was part of an Oral Abstract session I attended.

Abstract 5068
A phase II study of pazopanib in recurrent or persistent ovarian (EOC), peritoneal (PPC), or Fallopian tube cancer (FTC): A Spanish Ovarian Cancer Group (GEICO) study.

This Spanish study was discontinued early since the clinical benefit number was not reached due to the lack of activity of Pazopanib.

Abstract 5066

Effect of BRCA mutation on prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This poster was a review of over 2000 studies and confirmed the hypothesis that a BRCA mutation is a prognostic ( predicting the outcome)  factor in patients with ovarian cancer. Those women with BRCA mutations had better survival than the control group (women without the mutation). There was slightly longer survival for those with BRCA 2 mutations than BRCA1 . The researchers suggested that was due to a different nature of the dysfunction of these two genes.


Abstract 5001

Olaparib plus paclitaxel plus carboplatin (P/C) followed by olaparib maintenance treatment in patients (pts) with platinum-sensitive recurrent serous ovarian cancer (PSR SOC): A randomized, open-label phase II study.

This abstract was discussed by Dr Oza at the Oral Abstract session on Saturday. The study involved women with recurrent disease. Olaparib is an oral Parp Inhibitor drug.
Conclusion:  Patients with platinum sensitive recurrent serous ovarian cancer who took the parp inhibitor olaparib along with carboplatin and placitaxel followed by olaparib maintenance had some improvement in progression free survival (median 2.6 months) compared to patients treated with carboplatin and paclitaxel online.

It should be noted that earlier this year Astra Zeneca ( the maker of Olaparib) decided not to produce Olaparib for maintenance therapy of serous ovarian cancer.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!