BRIP1: Options for Cancer Treatment

Cancer Treatment for People with Inherited BRIP1 Mutations

Inherited BRIP1 mutations may affect treatment options or eligibility for clinical trials studying which treatments work best. 

If you have an inherited BRIP1 mutation, have been diagnosed with cancer and any of the situations below apply to you, you may wish to speak to your doctor about your medical options. 

Regardless of cancer type, people with a BRIP1 mutation may benefit from biomarker testing and may qualify for clinical trials looking for more effective treatments for cancer.

PARP inhibitors for metastatic prostate cancer

The PARP inhibitor, Lynparza (olaparib) has received FDA-approval to treat men with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer, who have a mutation in BRIP1 or another gene linked to a certain type of DNA damage repair. Lynparza may be used to treat men whose prostate cancer has progressed on enzalutamide (Xtandi) or abiraterone (Zytiga).

PARP inhibitors for advanced ovarian, fallopian tube 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 biomarker test known as an HRD test ("homologous recombination deficiency") can help women with an inherited BRIP1 mutation and advanced ovarian cancer learn if they may benefit from a PARP inhibitor.

Maintenance therapy after first-line treatment

• HRD testing can help women with advanced ovarian cancer learn if they may benefit from the PARP inhibitor Lynparza in combination with bevacizumab as maintenance therapy after first-line platinum chemotherapy.
• Zejula is approved for maintenance therapy in women with advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who had a complete or partial response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Zejula for maintenance therapy does not require an HRD test. 

Maintenance therapy after treatment of recurrent cancer

• Zejula, Rubraca (rucaparib) and Lynparza are all approved for maintenance therapy in women with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, 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 HRD test. 

PARP inhibitors or other targeted therapies for advanced cancers with no other treatment options

If you have a BRIP1 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 PARP inhibitor, another targeted therapy or participation in a clinical trial. 

To learn more about treatment options for specific types of cancer, visit our section on cancer treatment by cancer type.