Dr. Binder on Data Regarding Rucaparib Maintenance in Pancreatic Cancer

Kim A. Reiss Binder, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses data on maintenance therapy with rucaparib (Rubraca) in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Early, interim data from a study that examined rucaparib maintenance among patients with platinum-sensitive, advanced BRCA1/2- or PALB2-mutant pancreatic cancer showed that it was very well tolerated, says Binder. The majority of side effects were grade 1, and there were no dose-limiting toxicities. Though, 1 patient was dose-reduced as a result of grade 2 nausea, says Binder. Encouragingly, no grade 3/4 adverse events were reported in the cohort.

Stable disease was evident, and in some cases long term, says Binder. Moreover, some patients experienced tumor shrinkage; this came as a surprise to investigators, as platinum-based chemotherapy is already suppressive. Thirty-two patients have been enrolled of an expected 42 patients. Investigators will continue to gather data to see if the approach warrants further investigation, says Binder.