Maintenance Parp Inhibitors

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors are a class of drugs that prevent the DNA repair of cancer cells, thereby destroying them. PARP is an enzyme involved in repairing DNA. Maintenance PARP inhibitor therapy is the second line of treatment for cancer. It is most effective after chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. PARP therapy aims to prolong the time cancer cells need to multiply and recur, offering patients an improved quality of life. 

The Need for Maintenance PARP Inhibitors?

Maintenance PARP inhibitors are very beneficial for ovarian cancer patients. Some benefits include:

  • PARP inhibitors have been shown to significantly delay the recurrence of cancer cells after first-line treatment with chemotherapy. Studies show that they work better than placebo. 
  • Chemotherapy is an unspecific treatment modality. In comparison, PARP inhibitors focus on a specific cellular pathway, i.e. the DNA. They also have fewer side effects than other therapies. 
  • These drugs are available in oral medication form, i.e. pills. Hence, they are more convenient, painless and easily administrable drugs compared to intravenous chemotherapy.

Although maintenance PARP therapy is highly effective, it cannot be recommended to all cancer patients. 

What are the diseases treated through maintenance PARP inhibitors?

PARP treatments have been approved for treating the following conditions. They are most effective in patients with BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants or other homologous recombination repair deficiency markers. 

  • Ovarian cancer
  • Fallopian tube cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Primary peritoneal cancer

Apart from those listed above, PARP inhibitor therapy is also useful in treating advanced ovarian cancer, primary peritoneum and fallopian tube cancers which have responded well to platinum-based therapy, independent of genomic variants. Researchers are now studying about the efficiency of PARP inhibitors to treat the following types of cancers:

  •  lung cancer
  •  pancreatic cancer
  •  head and neck cancer
  •  cancer of the stomach and oesophagus
  •  womb and cervical cancer
  •  a type of brain tumour which is called glioblastoma multiforme
  •  prostate cancer
  •  kidney and bladder cancer

Who are the ideal candidates for this procedure?

Ideal candidates for maintenance PARP therapy are women with ovarian cancer who have had some response to first-line therapy, be it complete or partial. The conditions they must satisfy to receive PARP inhibitor therapy are given below:

  •  Women with a BRCA mutation may benefit from the therapy
  •  Women with a BRCA mutation and Avastin as part of their first-line therapy
  •  Women who had Avastin as part of their first-line treatment but do not have a BRCA mutation
  •  Women who neither have a BRCA mutation nor Avastin as part of their first-line therapy

The Expertise of Action Cancer Hospital in the Maintenance PARP Inhibitors

Action Cancer Hospital is committed to providing advanced treatment options for ovarian cancer patients. Our oncology department offers the following:

  •  Advanced Genetic Testing: We offer comprehensive testing, including BRCA mutation analysis, to identify patients who may benefit from PARP inhibitors.
  •  Personalised Treatment Plans: We create individualised plans based on each patient's unique cancer profile, treatment history, and overall health.
  •  Experienced Oncologists: Our team consists of highly qualified oncologists with expertise in ovarian cancer and the use of PARP inhibitors.
  •  Comprehensive Support Services: Action Cancer Hospital offers a wide range of support services, including social work, psychological counselling, and patient education, to address the physical and emotional challenges of treatment.
  •  Long-Term Care and Monitoring: We provide ongoing monitoring throughout treatment, managing potential side effects and offering support for the duration of maintenance therapy.
     

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Our Experts

Dr. Samit Purohit

Director

Medical Oncology, Targeted Therapy, Hormonal Treatment, Immunotherapy Clinic, Chemotherapy Clinic, Medical Ovarian Suppression, Medical Castration, Tyrosine Kinase Therapy, Maintenance Parp Inhibitors, Familial Cancer Syndrome Clinic, Palliative Care

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Dr. Samit Purohit

Director

Dr. Sushant Mittal

Director

Medical Oncology, Targeted Therapy, Hormonal Treatment, Immunotherapy Clinic, Chemotherapy Clinic, Medical Ovarian Suppression, Medical Castration, Tyrosine Kinase Therapy, Maintenance Parp Inhibitors, Familial Cancer Syndrome Clinic, Palliative Care

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Dr. Sushant Mittal

Director

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