Dr. Shah on the Significance of PARP Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer

Payal D. Shah, MD assistant professor of medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, physician, Abramson Cancer Center, Penn Medicine, discusses the significance of the emergence of PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage and patients often relapse following frontline therapy, Shah explains. As such, PARP inhibitors have been transformative for this patient population, Shah says. By understanding the genetic drivers of the disease, it has been possible to alter the natural history of the disease for some patients, specifically those whose cancer is associated with a BRCA mutation, homologous recombination deficiency, or platinum sensitivity, Shah explains. Moreover, PARP inhibitors are now approved in the maintenance setting following up-front therapy to help prevent recurrent disease, Shah adds.

Additionally, if a patient does develop recurrent disease, PARP inhibitors can be utilized in the relapsed setting, Shah continues. PARP inhibitors are being evaluated in various combinations with other therapies. Additionally, ongoing research is investigating treatment options for patients who develop resistance to PARP inhibitors, Shah concludes.