Dr. Monk on the Utility of PARP Inhibitors as Frontline Maintenance in Ovarian Cancer

Bradley J. Monk, MD, FACS, FACOG, professor, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Arizona Oncology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine at St. Joseph’s Hospital, medical director, Gynecologic Program, US Oncology Research Network, co-director, GOG Partners, discusses the utility of PARP inhibitors as frontline maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer. 

The randomized phase 3 NOVA trial (NCT01847274) was the first study to specifically evaluate the utilization of PARP inhibitors as maintenance treatment in patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer irrespective of BRCA mutation status, Monk says. Althoughother studies, such as the phase 2 Study 19 (NCT00753545) and phase 3 ARIEL3 (NCT01968213) trials, attempted to evaluate PARP inhibitors in this setting, the NOVA trial completed it in a systematic way that eventually set the standard for platinum-sensitive disease, Monk explains.

The goal of platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer management is to use PARP inhibitors in the first-line setting; however, some patients who do not have the opportunity to receive front-line PARP inhibitors, Monk adds. Ideally, all eligible patients will have the opportunity to receive a PARP inhibitor as front-line therapy, as well as to access to other treatment opportunities based on BRCA status, Monk concludes.