Dr. Levine on Combos With PARP Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer

Douglas A. Levine, MD, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, director, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, NYU Langone Medical Center, discusses what potential PARP inhibitors could have with chemotherapy regimens as a treatment for patients with ovarian cancer.

Combining PARP inhibitors with chemotherapy agents has been a little bit difficult, Levine says. However, an ongoing trial will explore if this strategy has actual potential. PARP inhibitors will likely show higher levels of efficacy in the recurrent setting and in combination with immunotherapy, angiogenic therapy, and possibly cell cycle inhibitors.

Additionally, there will be many PARP inhibitors to choose from over time, he explains. Researchers will begin to face big questions on where and how to give them, whether to administer them in the maintenance or treatment setting, and whether to use them early or late. Personally, Levine says, he prefers to use them early on in the treatment cycle. Further research will elaborate on whether these agents belong in the maintenance or treatment setting.