Dr. Copeland on the Use of PARP Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer

Larry J. Copeland, MD, professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James, discusses the use of PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer.

Historically, drugs are tested in the recurrent setting before they are moved up into the frontline setting, says Copeland. The same is true of the PARP inhibitors which are approved for use in the recurrent setting and have emerged in the frontline maintenance setting.

Notably, a small percent of patients who receive PARP inhibitors will develop a preleukemia-type syndrome, says Copeland. Long-term data will determine whether these drugs should continue to be used in the treatment paradigm, as was the case with melphalan, concludes Copeland.