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Sign Up for FORCE NewslettersCancer Treatment for People with Inherited Mutations
Testing positive for an inherited mutation may affect your treatment options or eligibility for clinical trials studying which treatments work best. The following are examples of situations where an mutation may play a part in treatment decision-making. Note that when we use "men" and "women" we are referring to the sex you were assigned at birth.
Radiation therapy in people with an mutation
People with an in both copies of the gene (people with Ataxia-Telangiesctasia) are very sensitive to radiation damage. However, according to experts, people with a single mutation can safely undergo radiation therapy to treat their cancer as recommended by their oncologist.
Breast cancer surgical decisions
Because of the high risk for a second breast cancer diagnosis, women who are diagnosed with breast cancer who test positive for an in may choose mastectomy rather than and radiation. Mutation carriers who undergo mastectomy are less likely to develop a second breast cancer.
Targeted therapies for advanced cancers
PARP inhibitors are a type of that work by blocking a protein used to repair damaged . People with an mutation who have been diagnosed with cancer may want to ask their doctor about whether they might benefit from therapy or a research study.
PARP inhibitors for prostate cancer
The PARP inhibitors, Lynparza () and () have received FDA-approval to treat men with , , who have a mutation in or another gene linked to a certain type of damage repair.
PARP inhibitors for advanced ovarian, or primary peritoneal cancer
Several PARP inhibitors have been approved to treat ovarian cancers at different stages of the disease. In some situations, a tumor known as an test ("hemologous recombination deficiency") can help identify which ovarian cancers may respond to treatment with a .
after treatment
- testing can help women with advanced ovarian cancer learn if they may benefit from the , Lynparza () in combination with Avastin (bevacizumab) as after platinum chemotherapy.
- () is approved for in women with advanced ovarian, , or primary peritoneal cancer who had a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. for does not require an test.
after treatment of recurrent cancer
- , () and Lynparza are all approved for maintenance therapy in women with recurrent epithelial ovarian, , or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum based chemotherapy. In this setting, none of these drugs requires an test.
To learn more about treatment options for specific types of cancer, visit our section on Cancer Treatment by Cancer Type.
PARP inhibitors or other targeted therapies for advanced cancers with no other treatment options
If you have an mutation and another type of advanced cancer that no longer responds to standard therapy, you may want to talk with your doctor about whether you might benefit from treatment with a or participation in a clinical trial.
