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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 a 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.
Surgical decisions
Because of the very high risk for a second (or third) breast cancer diagnosis, women who are diagnosed with breast cancer who test positive for an in often choose mastectomy rather than and radiation. Mutation carriers who undergo mastectomy are less likely to develop a second breast cancer.
Unlike women, the risk for a second breast cancer diagnosis in men with a mutation is low. For this reason, mastectomy may not be recommended.
Treatment options for breast cancer
The PARP inhibitors, Lynparza (also known as ) and (also known as ) both have received approval for treating breast cancer caused by a mutation.
Treatment options for , high-risk breast cancer
The , Lynparza is approved to treat people with , breast cancer who have an inherited mutation and who are at high risk for recurrence.
is a type of treatment that is given after chemotherapy treatment has been completed to keep the cancer from returning. There are three oral PARP inhibitors with approval for in advanced ovarian, and primary peritoneal cancer; Lynparza, () and ().
- People with a mutation who have completed front-line (their first course) of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer may use Lynparza as to delay recurrence.
- Lynparza in combination with Avastin (bevacizumab) may be used as after front-line platinum chemotherapy in people with a mutation.
- Lynparza, , and may each be used as maintenance therapy to treat recurrent ovarian cancer in people who had either a complete or partial response to the most recent line of recurrence therapy. These PARP inhibitors have been approved for in this setting regardless of mutation status. However, research suggests that the drugs work particularly well for people with a mutation.
In the News
Choice of chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer
People with pancreatic cancer and an inherited mutation may respond better to treatment that includes a type of chemotherapy known as platinum. Oxaliplatin is a platinum-containing drug often used to treat pancreatic cancer.
Maintenancy therapy after chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer
The oral , Lynparza may be used as for people with a mutation who completed platinum-based chemotherapy and whose pancreatic cancer has not come back or gotten worse.
Participate in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Research
Below are some of our featured research studies looking at new treatments for pancreatic cancer. To search for more studies, visit our Search and Enroll Tool.
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier:
NCT04673448
Study of a New InvestigationaI Inhibitor to Treat People with Advanced Solid Tumors
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier:
NCT05932862
cancer
cancers tend to be slow-growing in most people, but cancers in people with a mutation may be aggressive.
Several PARP inhibitors have received approval for treating , castraction-resistant cancer (mCRPC) in people with mutations.
- Akeega is a drug that combines the hormone therapy drug with the niraparib in a single tablet. Akeega may be used in combination with prednisone as a treatment for castration-resistant cancer (mCRPC) for people with a or mutation.
- Lynparza may be used to treat MCRPC in people who have a mutation in or another gene linked to damage repair whose cancer got worse or came back after receiving hormone therapy with (Xtandi) or (Zytiga).
- may be used to treat castration-resistant cancer in people who have already received treatment with a certain type of hormone therapy and chemotherapy.
- () may be used to treat people with , who have a mutation in or another gene linked to a certain type of damage repair.
Participate in Cancer Treatment Research
Below are some of our featured research studies looking at new treatments for cancer. To search for more studies, visit our Search and Enroll Tool.
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier:
NCT04038502
Study of a New InvestigationaI Inhibitor to Treat People with Advanced Solid Tumors
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier:
NCT05932862
Advanced cancers with no treatment options
If you have a mutation and advanced cancer that no longer responds to standard therapy, you may have additional options. Talk with your doctor about tumor testing to learn whether you might benefit from a , another or participation in a clinical trial.