News

Video

PAOLA-1: A Review of Progression-Free Survival and 5-Year Follow-up Overall Survival Analysis: Exploratory Post-Hoc Analysis by Clinical Risk of Relapse

Thomas J. Herzog, MD, examines the PAOLA-1 trial results, focusing on the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) and key secondary endpoint of overall survival for olaparib in combination with bevacizumab for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. He discusses the 5-year overall survival data in relation to the PFS data and reviews the safety profile of the combination therapy with over 5 years of median follow-up. Dr. Herzog also considers the impact of these data on clinical decision-making and patient counseling from the perspective of a practicing gynecologic oncologist.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

LYNPARZA may cause serious side effects, including:
Bone marrow problems called Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) or Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Some people who have received previous treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or certain other medicines for their cancer have developed MDS or AML during treatment with LYNPARZA. MDS or AML may lead to death. If you develop MDS or AML, your healthcare provider will stop treatment with LYNPARZA.

Symptoms of low blood cell counts are common during treatment with LYNPARZA, but can be a sign of serious bone marrow problems, including MDS or AML. Symptoms may include weakness, weight loss, fever, frequent infections, blood in urine or stool, shortness of breath, feeling very tired, bruising or bleeding more easily.

Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your blood cell counts:

  • before treatment with LYNPARZA
  • every month during treatment with LYNPARZA
  • weekly if you have low blood cell counts that last a long time. Your healthcare provider may stop treatment with LYNPARZA until your blood cell counts improve

Lung problems (pneumonitis). Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worsening symptoms of lung problems, including shortness of breath, fever, cough, or wheezing. Your healthcare provider may do a chest x-ray if you have any of these symptoms. Your healthcare provider may temporarily or completely stop treatment if you develop pneumonitis. Pneumonitis may lead to death.

Blood clots (venous thromboembolism). Some people may develop a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg (venous thrombosis) or a clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), which may be severe or lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms such as pain or swelling in an extremity, shortness of breath, chest pain, breathing that is more rapid than normal (tachypnea), or heart beats faster than normal (tachycardia). Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these symptoms and may prescribe blood thinner medicine.

Before taking LYNPARZA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have lung or breathing problems
  • have kidney problems
  • are pregnant, become pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. LYNPARZA can harm your unborn baby and may cause loss of pregnancy (miscarriage)
    • If you are able to become pregnant, your healthcare provider may do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with LYNPARZA
    • Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with LYNPARZA and for 6 months after the last dose of LYNPARZA. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for you. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you might be pregnant following treatment with LYNPARZA
    • Males with female partners who are pregnant or able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with LYNPARZA and for 3 months after the last dose of LYNPARZA
    • Do not donate sperm during treatment with LYNPARZA and for 3 months after your last dose
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if LYNPARZA passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with LYNPARZA and for 1 month after receiving the last dose of LYNPARZA. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during this time

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking LYNPARZA and certain other medicines may affect how LYNPARZA works and may cause side effects.

How should I take LYNPARZA?

  • Take LYNPARZA tablets exactly as your healthcare provider tells you
  • Do not change your dose or stop taking LYNPARZA unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop treatment with LYNPARZA or change your dose of LYNPARZA if you experience side effects
  • Your healthcare provider will decide how long you stay on treatment
  • Take LYNPARZA by mouth 2 times a day with or without food
  • Each dose should be taken about 12 hours apart
  • Swallow LYNPARZA tablets whole. Do not chew, crush, dissolve, or divide the tablets
  • If you are taking LYNPARZA for early breast cancer and you have hormone receptor-positive disease, you should continue to take hormonal therapy during your treatment with LYNPARZA
  • If you are taking LYNPARZA for prostate cancer and you are receiving gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog therapy, you should continue with this treatment during your treatment with LYNPARZA unless you have had a surgery to lower the amount of testosterone in your body (surgical castration)
  • If you miss a dose of LYNPARZA, take your next dose at your usual scheduled time. Do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed dose
  • If you take too much LYNPARZA, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away

What should I avoid while taking LYNPARZA?

Avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, Seville oranges, and Seville orange juice during treatment with LYNPARZA since they may increase the level of LYNPARZA in your blood.

LYNPARZA may cause serious side effects (see above). The most common side effects of LYNPARZA when used alone are:

  • nausea or vomiting. Tell your healthcare provider if you get nausea or vomiting. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines to treat these symptoms
  • tiredness or weakness
  • low red blood cell counts
  • diarrhea
  • loss of appetite
  • headache
  • changes in the way food tastes
  • cough
  • low white blood cell counts
  • shortness of breath
  • dizziness
  • indigestion or heartburn
  • low platelet counts

The most common side effects of LYNPARZA when used in combination with bevacizumab are:

  • nausea or vomiting. Tell your healthcare provider if you get nausea or vomiting. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines to treat these symptoms
  • tiredness or weakness
  • low red blood cell counts
  • low white blood cell counts
  • diarrhea
  • urinary tract infection
  • headache

The most common side effects of LYNPARZA when used in combination with abiraterone are:

  • low red blood cell counts
  • tiredness or weakness
  • nausea or vomiting. Tell your healthcare provider if you get nausea or vomiting. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines to treat these symptoms
  • diarrhea
  • loss of appetite
  • low white blood cell counts
  • dizziness
  • abdominal pain

These are not all the possible side effects of LYNPARZA. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca products (Opens in new window).

Please see complete Prescribing Information (Link opens PDF in a new tab), including Medication GuideLink (opens PDF in a new tab).

https://www.lynparza.com/