Dr. Erickson on the Varying Safety Profiles of Select PARP Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer

Britt Erickson, MD, assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health (OBGYN), University of Minnesota Medical School, discusses the toxicity profiles of available PARP inhibitors used in the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer. 

If a patient is going to receive bevacizumab (Avastin) maintenance therapy in addition to PARP inhibitor maintenance treatment, olaparib (Lynparza) may represent a favorable option with regard to toxicities, according to Erickson. Toxicities associated with PARP inhibitors are well known, and niraparib (Zejula) often leads to more instances of thrombocytopenia, although this can be mitigated by reduced dosing for select groups of patients, Erickson explains. 

Some differences in safety profile exist between olaparib and niraparib, primarily with regard bone marrow toxicity, changes in creatinine, and fatigue. These differences may help inform selection among these 2 therapies, Erickson concludes.