Dr. Morgan Discusses the Impact of PARP Inhibitors in Prostate Cancer

Alicia Morgan, MD, Mather Hospital, discusses the impact of PARP inhibitors in prostate cancer.

Initially, the prostate cancer community did not realize how big of a potential role there was for PARP inhibitors in the treatment landscape, says Morgan. There are many reasons that the prostate cancer community is excited about the option of PARP inhibitors, one being the benefit that PARP inhibitors have shown in other solid tumor types.

Other than that, the oral aspect of PARP inhibitors is appealing, says Morgan, as patients do not have to come into the clinic to receive infusions and the regimen is tolerable. Morgan adds that the idea of a targeted treatment other than androgen receptor-directed therapy in the treatment of patients with prostate cancer is exciting.

In January 2016, the FDA granted the PARP inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza) a breakthrough therapy designation as a treatment for patients with BRCA1/2 or ATM-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have received prior taxane-based chemotherapy and at least either enzalutamide (Xtandi) or abiraterone acetate (Zytiga).