Dr. Mirza Discusses Niraparib Dose Modifications for Patients With Low Body Weight

Mansoor Raza Mirza, MD, chief oncologist in the Department of Oncology in Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark, discusses a study of safety and dose modification for patients with low body weight receiving niraparib (Zejula) in the ENGOT-OV16/NOVA phase III trial during the 2018 Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting.

Results of this retrospective analysis showed patients who had <77 kg body weight and/or <150,000/µL platelet counts had a greater risk of grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia, compared to patients who were heavier and had higher platelets counts, Mirza says.

Interestingly, the patients with lower body weight and platelet counts were able to remain on the 300-mg starting dose of niraparib. Only 3% of patients on the study discontinued treatment due to thrombocytopenia.

These data suggest that niraparib is very manageable, dose adjustments can allow patients to remain on the drug for a long time, and lower doses likely have the same efficacy as the 300-mg dose, Mirza explains.