Dr. Crafton on the Impact of PARP Inhibitors in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Sarah Crafton, MD, gynecologic oncologist, Allegheny Health Network, discusses the impact of PARP inhibitors on patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

PARP inhibitors have transformed the recurrent ovarian cancer setting because as a novel agent in terms of its basic science, mechanism, and application, it also allows patients to take it orally in pill form versus intravenous chemotherapy, explains Crafton. Many patients feel liberated by this change in delivery, although they still need to visit their physician regularly, have their symptoms monitored, and receive regular lab evaluation, says Crafton.

For patients who harbor a BRCA mutation or have homologous recombination deficiency, PARP inhibitors have revolutionized care for recurrent ovarian cancer by increasing the amount of time between systemic chemotherapy treatments, concludes Crafton.