A new study published in Cancer Medicine by Michele Milella, Giulia Orsi, Mariacristina di Marco, Lisa Salvatore, and colleagues highlights the real-world survival benefits of olaparib in patients with BRCA1/2-mutant metastatic pancreatic cancer (PDAC). Conducted across 23 Italian oncology centers, the analysis revealed that patients exposed to olaparib at any point during their treatment course had significantly longer overall survival (OS) compared to those who did not receive the drug.
The study found that exposure to olaparib, regardless of treatment setting, was associated with a 43% reduction in the risk of death (HR 0.568, p = 0.02). However, when used as first-line maintenance after platinum-based chemotherapy, olaparib did not show a significant OS benefit, echoing findings from the POLO trial. Despite this, the data suggest that integrating olaparib into treatment strategies for BRCA-mutant PDAC may provide a meaningful survival advantage.
These findings reinforce the need for broader access to PARP inhibitors in pancreatic cancer treatment, especially in healthcare systems where reimbursement remains limited. Further research is needed to optimize the sequencing of olaparib in clinical practice to maximize patient outcomes.
