PARP Inhibitors and Prostate Cancer: Perceptions of Surveyed Practicing Oncologists

By: Sarah Lynch
Posted: Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Recent studies, particularly the TALAPRO-2 and PROpel trials, have reported data to suggest that PARP inhibitors work well in the treatment of certain types of prostate cancer with specific gene mutations. At the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Quality Care Symposium (Abstract 546), Brian H. Ramnaraign, MD, of the University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, and colleagues aimed to study practicing oncologists’ thoughts regarding the use of these agents in this patient population.

Oncologists based in the United States were invited to attend meetings to discuss data presented at during the 2023 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. Demographics and thoughts were recorded via audience response system technology. Of the 115 oncologists surveyed, 99 treated patients with prostate cancer. Of these oncologists, 74% indicated they often test for HRR mutations, usually at initial diagnosis of metastatic disease. A total of 84% of these oncologists preferred olaparib when using a PARP inhibitor, determined by efficacy, safety, and tolerability.

A smaller group of oncologists were also asked their views before and after the trial updates. Overall, there was a 41% increase in physicians who would use talazoparib plus enzalutamide after disease progression for a patient on docetaxel with ATM mutations, and they were 35% more likely to report a preference for this treatment combination after disease progression for a patient on abiraterone acetate with BRCA1-mutations. In addition, there was a 27% increase in physicians who would use olaparib plus abiraterone acetate for a patient with HRR wild-type mutations after treatment with enzalutamide. Overall, these data showed that updates in research regarding PARP inhibitors have an impact on the treatments preferred by oncologists, but further study of genetic testing practices used by oncologists is needed.

Disclosure: Dr. Ramnaraign has served as a consultant or advisor to Cardinal Health, Ipsen, and Pfizer. For full disclosures of the other study authors, visit coi.asco.org.

2023 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

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