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Sign Up for FORCE NewslettersCancer Treatment for People with Inherited Mutations
Inherited mutations may affect treatment options or eligibility for clinical trials studying which treatments work best. The following are examples of situations where a mutation may affect cancer treatment decisions.
Targeted therapies for advanced cancers
PARP inhibitors are a type of that work by blocking a protein used to repair damaged . People with a mutation who have been diagnosed with cancer may want to ask their doctor about whether they might benefit from a clinical trial or treatment with a .
PARP inhibitors for treating prostate cancer
The , Lynparza () has FDA-approval to treat , in people who have a mutation in or other genes 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 a mutation and advanced cancer that no longer responds to standard therapy, talk with your doctor about tumor testing to learn whether you might benefit from a , another or participation in a clinical trial.
