Dr. Hochster on Take-Home Message of the POLO Trial in Pancreatic Cancer

Howard S. Hochster, MD, FACP, associate director for clinical research and director, Gastrointestinal Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, director of oncology research, RWJBarnabas Health, discusses important takeaways from the randomized, double-blind, phase III POLO trial in pancreatic cancer.

Investigators reported a progression-free survival benefit with olaparib (Lynparza) as maintenance therapy for patients with germline BRCA-mutated metastatic pancreatic cancer who had not progressed during first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.

From this study, Hochster concludes that global genetic testing for germline BRCA-mutated disease should be implemented. Although BRCA mutations are found in about 8% of all patients with pancreatic cancer, certain subgroups have a higher incidence.

Taking a thorough family history is also important, says Hochster. A patient with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer who develops pancreatic cancer should be tested for a BRCA mutation to determine if they could benefit from treatment with olaparib.