What is Olaparib?

What is Olaparib?

Olaparib is a prescription anticancer drug whose active ingredient is olaparib. It belongs to a class of medications known as PARP inhibitors (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors). PARP inhibitors are able to destroy cancer cells that cannot effectively repair their own DNA damage. These specific cancer cells typically have two characteristics: first, they respond to platinum‑based chemotherapy; second, they have damage in DNA repair genes (such as BRCA genes). When olaparib is combined with abiraterone (an androgen receptor signaling inhibitor), it can enhance the killing effect on prostate cancer cells, regardless of whether those cancer cells have BRCA gene damage.

Which ovarian and breast cancers is Olaparib used to treat?

For ovarian cancer, olaparib is used to treat specific types of ovarian cancer with BRCA gene mutations that have responded to initial standard platinum‑based chemotherapy; it is also used for recurrent ovarian cancer (after a response to prior platinum‑based chemotherapy); and for HRD‑positive (defined as BRCA mutation or genomic instability) ovarian cancer in combination with bevacizumab. For breast cancer, olaparib is used to treat BRCA‑mutated, HER2‑negative breast cancer: if the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body, it can be used as adjuvant therapy after surgery (provided that the patient has received chemotherapy before or after surgery, and those with hormone receptor‑positive disease also receive hormone therapy); if the cancer has spread beyond the primary tumor, it can also be used, provided the patient has received chemotherapy before or after the cancer spread.

Which pancreatic, prostate, and uterine cancers is Olaparib used to treat?

For pancreatic cancer, olaparib is used to treat BRCA‑mutated pancreatic cancer that has responded to initial standard platinum‑based chemotherapy. For prostate cancer, there are two scenarios: one is BRCA‑mutated prostate cancer that has spread and no longer responds to testosterone‑lowering therapy, and the patient has already received hormone therapy such as enzalutamide; the other is metastatic prostate cancer (no longer responding to testosterone‑lowering therapy), in which case olaparib is used in combination with abiraterone and prednisone (or prednisolone). For uterine cancer, olaparib is used in combination with durvalumab to treat MMR‑proficient endometrial cancer that has spread or recurred and has not progressed after initial treatment with carboplatin, paclitaxel, and durvalumab.