Lynparza (olaparib) is a medicine that is used to treat several types of cancer including certain ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. This article will focus on taking Lynparza for ovarian cancer.
How Does Lynparza Work for Ovarian Cancer?
Lynparza is a type of medicine known as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor. PARP is a certain protein that helps cancer cells survive and grow. It does this by repairing cell functions of the cancer cells such as DNA transcription and DNA repair. Lynparza inhibits, or blocks, the PARP protein and prevents it from repairing the DNA of cancer cells, which causes the cells to die.
What Kinds of Ovarian Cancer Does Lynparza Treat?
Ovarian cancer that is BRCA-mutated or homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)-positive may be able to be treated by Lynparza. In most cases, you will have to have already tried a platinum-based chemotherapy and have had a complete or partial response to the chemotherapy to take Lynparza for ovarian cancer. Lynparza’s approved to treat certain types of ovarian cancer, including fallopian tube and peritoneal cancers.
BRCA is an inherited gene. When BRCA is mutated, you may be at an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers. You can take Lynparza for BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer that is advanced (it has spread beyond the initial tumor but has not spread to other parts of the body) and that has been treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and had a response to the chemotherapy. For this type of ovarian cancer, Lynparza can be taken as a first-line maintenance treatment, meaning you would take it after you finish your chemotherapy. Lynparza can also be used to treat BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer that is recurrent (the cancer returned after treatment) and that has been treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and had a partial or complete response to the chemotherapy. Lynparza is also taken as a maintenance treatment for this type of cancer, meaning you would take it after you finish your chemotherapy.
HRD is a biomarker that can be on tumor cells. It can appear when there are certain gene mutations that take place. It can be present on BRCA-mutated tumor cells, but it may also be on tumor cells when there is not a BRCA mutation. You can take Lynparza for HRD-positive ovarian cancer that is advanced (it has spread beyond the initial tumor but has not spread to other parts of the body) and that has been treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and bevacizumab and had a partial or complete response to the chemotherapy. For this type of ovarian cancer, Lynparza is used along with another medicine called bevacizumab and can be taken as a first-line maintenance treatment, meaning you would take it after you finish your chemotherapy.
Both BRCA and HRD are tests that can be done. BRCA can be tested with saliva, blood, or even a swab in your cheek. Tumor tissue can be used to test for both BRCA and HRD. This test is usually done after a biopsy or after you have had surgery to remove a tumor.
How Do I Take My Doses of Lynparza for Ovarian Cancer?
Lynparza is available as tablets that you swallow by mouth. You will usually take your dose twice daily. You can take it with or without food. You should not chew, crush, dissolve, or break the tablets. If you miss a dose, you should skip it and take your next planned dose at the regular time. Do not double your doses.
When taking Lynparza for BRCA-mutated or HRD-positive ovarian cancer after you have received a first-line treatment of platinum chemotherapy, you can take the medicine for up to 2 years. If you have a complete response to the medication after taking Lynparza for 2 years, you will stop taking the medicine. If you have had a partial response, your health care provider will decide if the potential benefit of the medicine outweighs the risks for you. You may have to stop taking Lynparza before 2 years if your cancer grows or spreads, or if you have certain side effects that make it unsafe for you to continue taking the medicine.
If you are taking Lynparza for BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer that has recurred, or come back, you will usually take the medicine as long as possible. This means you will not stop at 2 years, but you may have to stop taking the medicine if your cancer grows or spreads, or if you have certain adverse effects that make it unsafe for you to continue taking the medicine.
If you have certain side effects while taking Lynparza, you may have to change your dose, pause your doses, or stop taking Lynparza altogether. Your health care provider will talk with you about how long you can expect to take Lynparza.
How Well Does Lynparza Work for Ovarian Cancer?
The FDA approved Lynparza to treat BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer that is advanced and has been treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and had a response to the chemotherapy in a clinical trial called SOLO-1. In this trial, people either took Lynparza or a placebo. A placebo is used in clinical trials as a control so that the potential benefit of a medicine in a group of people can be compared in a similar group of people who did not receive a medicine. The clinical trial included 391 people, with 260 of them taking Lynparza. There is no information available about the races of the people who took part in the clinical trial. They were followed to see how long it took for their cancer to progress, meaning that the cancer grew or spread. This measurement is called progression-free survival. At 3 years after starting treatment, 69% of people who took Lynparza had not had their cancer grow or spread, compared to 35% of people who took the placebo. This study also looked at how long people in the study who received a certain medicine survived or needed to move on to a second-line of treatment after starting to use the medicine. The median time it took for people to need to move to a second-line treatment or who died was 51.8 months (over 4 years) for people who took Lynparza, compared to 15.1 months for the people who took the placebo. This means that half of the people who took Lynparza were still alive and did not need the next line of treatment at 51.8 months.
Lynparza was also approved for use along with a medicine called bevacizumab to treat HRD-positive ovarian cancer that is advanced and has been treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and bevacizumab and had a response to chemotherapy in a clinical trial called PAOLA-1. In this trial, people either took Lynparza and bevacizumab or a placebo and bevacizumab. The clinical trial included 806 people, with 537 of them taking Lynparza. There is no information available about the races of the people who took part in the clinical trial. The median progression-free survival was 22.1 months in the Lynparza group, compared to 16.6 months in the placebo group. This means that half of the people who took Lynparza did not have their cancer grow or spread at 22.1 months. The median time it took until people needed their next line of treatment was 24.8 months for the people who took Lynparza and 18.5 months for the placebo group. This means that half of the people who took Lynparza did not need their next line of treatment at 24.8 months.
The FDA also approved Lynparza for treating BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer that is advanced and has recurred, or come back, after treatment with a platinum-based chemotherapy and had a response to the chemotherapy. This clinical trial, called SOLO-2, included 295 people, with 196 of them taking Lynparza. There is no information available about the races of the people who took part in the clinical trial. The median progression-free survival was 19.1 months in the Lynparza group, compared to 5.5 months in the placebo group. This means that half of the people who took Lynparza did not have their cancer grow or spread at 19.1 months. This trial also followed people to see how long they stayed alive after starting treatment. This is called overall survival. The median overall survival was 51.7 months for the people who took Lynparza, compared to 38.8 months for the people who took the placebo. This means that half of the people who took Lynparza were still alive at 51.7 months.
How Will My Progress Be Monitored?
Lynparza will start working as soon as you take your first dose. Your health care provider will usually do regular scans to see how your cancer is responding to the treatment. The frequency of these scans may depend on your health care provider and the type of cancer you have.
Your health care provider will also do regular bloodwork to see how Lynparza is working in your body. These tests will monitor your blood counts such as white blood cells, neutrophils, and platelets so that your health care provider knows that you can continue to take Lynparza safely. If you have certain side effects, such as a cough, your health care provider may do more tests to make sure it is safe for you to continue to take Lynparza.
If you have certain blood cell counts while you take Lynparza, your health care provider may need to pause your doses or even stop your doses altogether. This will depend on your bloodwork. If your Lynparza dose needs to be paused, it is possible that your health care provider will restart the medicine at the same dose or a lower dose once your side effects are treated.
How Can I Prevent and Manage Side Effects?
Side effects are common with medicines that treat cancer, including Lynparza. It is important to tell your health care provider about any side effects you have while taking your Lynparza doses and after. They can help to find out if your side effects are serious or provide more information to help you manage the side effects.
Your health care provider will have you do bloodwork regularly while you’re taking Lynparza. It’s important to attend all of your bloodwork appointments so that your health care provider can make sure the drug is safe for you. These tests will look at your blood cell counts to make sure you do not have any problems that make it unsafe for you to take Lynparza. This is because Lynparza can cause myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia, which can lead to changes in your blood cell counts that can be dangerous and even life-threatening if not treated.
You can ask your health care provider what else you can do to prevent or treat common side effects. For example, you can help to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea by eating bland foods and having multiple small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals.
What Are Other Unique Considerations to Be Aware Of?
While taking Lynparza, you will need to avoid eating or drinking grapefruits, Seville oranges, and any juices with them. This is because they can cause too much Lynparza to stay in your body and increase your risk of side effects.
If you are taking certain medications while taking Lynparza, you may have to change your dose. Tell your health care provider about all medicines, prescription and over-the counter drugs, supplements, and herbs you are taking or plan to take before starting Lynparza.
Is There Any Cost Assistance Available?
The maker of Lynparza has a financial support program that may be able to offer coupons for Lynparza doses.
