Dr. Tripathy Discusses Iniparib Trial Heterogeneity

Debu Tripathy, MD, professor of medicine and co-leader of the Women’s Cancer Program at the University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the differences in survival among studies on iniparib in as a first-, second-, and third-line treatment.

The phase II trial showed a marked difference in survival and disease-free survival, but subsequent studies did not show that with first-line patients. In second- and third-line patients, however, the treatment was effective.

The differences in the trial results have led to discussions regarding tumor heterogeneity and how that heterogeneity might affect a population of patients rather than one particular tumor. In this case, the first-line patients might be different than the second- and third-line patients when it comes to their tumors. Tissue samples are being studied to determine what might be causing this heterogeneity.