Dr. Backes on Treatment Selection With PARP Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer

Floor J. Backes, MD, associate professor, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses treatment selection with PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer.

All 3 FDA-approved PARP inhibitors, niraparib (Zejula), rucaparib (Rubraca), and olaparib (Lynparza), have comparable rates of nausea and fatigue, says Backes. However, niraparib does display higher rates of hematologic toxicities, such as anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia. As such, rucaparib and olaparib may be preferable to niraparib in certain patients, says Backes.

Moreover, niraparib can increase a patient’s blood pressure, so it should not be given to patients who already have high blood pressure. Similarly, rucaparib can raise a patient’s cholesterol, so it should be avoided in patients who already have high cholesterol, concludes Backes.