Video

The Evolution of PARP Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer

Author(s):

Cristiana Sessa, M.D.

Cristiana Sessa, M.D., of the Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, discusses the evolution of how PARP inhibitors are used to treat ovarian cancer.

Christiana Sessa, M.D., head of Phase 1-2 Unit and Pharmacology, vice head of Medical Oncology and Head of Clinical Research, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, discusses the evolution of how PARP inhibitors are used to treat ovarian cancer.

Initially, PARP inhibitors were used only in patients who had BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations. However, they then showed activity in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer, and in those with what Sessa calls “genomic scarring,” meaning they have DNA damage that cannot be repaired.

Currently there, are three FDA-approved PARP inhibitors in the ovarian cancer space: Lynparza (olaparib), Zejula (niraparib) and Rubraca (rucaparib).

Newsletter

Stay up to date on cancer updates, research and education

Subscribe Now!
Related Videos
Image of two doctors and text.
Image of man.
Image of thumbnail.
Patients can prepare personal overviews to help care teams connect with them as individuals, explained Michelle Kirschner in an interview with CURE.
Enhertu with Perjeta nearly doubled progression-free survival versus standard treatment in metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, study shows.
Expanding on a New Way to Manage Polycythemia Vera Without Iron Deficiency
Image of woman.
Image of two people.
Image of doctor.
Image of woman.
Related Content
Image of injection.
June 12th 2025

How Love Helped Me Overcome my Cancer Diagnosis

Glenna Sears-Brinker
Facing two life-threatening diagnoses, I overcame fear of self-injections by leaning on love, encouragement and determination to save my life.
cancer horizons logo: a white microphone on a navy blue background
March 11th 2024

Oncology Approvals, Psychological Outcomes for Survivors and an Ovarian Cancer Vaccine

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
Last week we saw some FDA approvals come through, as well as research that explored the psychosocial outcomes of individuals who survived pediatric rhabdosarcoma.
Image of kelly.
May 23rd 2025

Ovarian Cancer Treatment Side Effects Make for a Difficult Balancing Act

Kelly Irvin
I urge researchers to look into why side effects occur in cancer drugs and to find ways to mitigate them that doesn’t impact their efficacy.
Shannon Miller smiling at a podium while delivering the keynote address at the 2023 Extraordinary Healer event | Image credit: © ATA-GIRL PHOTOGRAPHY
May 4th 2023

Olympian Shares Her Cancer Experience: ‘Give Yourself Grace’

Brielle Benyon
Olympic gymnast, Shannon Miller, sat down with CURE® to discuss her experience with a rare type of ovarian cancer, and how her competitive mindset helped her through.
Dr. Suresh S. Ramalingam explains that patients with stage 3 lung cancer who undergo chemotherapy and radiation may develop radiation pneumonitis.
May 7th 2025

Managing Lung Inflammation After Chemoradiation and Tagrisso

Dr. Suresh S. Ramalingam
Dr. Suresh S. Ramalingam explains that patients with stage 3 lung cancer who undergo chemotherapy and radiation may develop radiation pneumonitis.
Kelly Irvin was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in January 2016. Catch up on all of Kelly's blogs here!
May 6th 2025

Nurse’s Big Personality Makes Cancer Treatment More Bearable.

Kelly Irvin
She wore a variety of bright sneakers and occasionally did a cha-cha-cha in them. Her laughter was contagious. Patients smiled. The other nurses smiled.