Dr. Kristeleit on the Safety Profile of Rucaparib in Ovarian Cancer

Rebecca Kristeleit, BSc, PhD, consultant medical oncologist, University College-London Cancer Institute, discusses the safety profile of rucaparib in the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer.

These safety data come from an analysis of 2 phase II trials that looked at heavily pretreated patients with high-grade ovarian cancer and germline or somatic BRCA mutations who showed a durable response to rucaparib. According to Kristeleit, the agent demonstrated side effects that were very consistent with those seen in the use of other PARP inhibitors. The dominant side effects included fatigue, nausea, and anemia.

Dose interruptions and dose reductions were very effective methods to manage these adverse events, she says. Of the 377 patients included in the safety assessment in this study, only 8% discontinued due to treatment-related adverse events. These data indicate that, although dose adjustments may be required for some patients, many are able to continue with rucaparib for the long-term.