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BARD1: Options for Cancer Treatment

Learn about personalized treatment options for people with a BARD1 mutation. Stay up to date by signing up for our community newsletter.
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Cancer 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. 

Last updated June 21, 2024