Background:
This study investigated the effect of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors
(PARPi) as maintenance therapy after first- and second-line chemotherapy on platinum sensitivity
in patients with recurrent high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer (rHGSOC).
Methods:
This study retrospectively analyzed 172 patients with rHGSOC treated at Zhejiang Cancer
Hospital and Jiaxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital between January 2017 and December
2021. The 1st-PARPi group comprised patients who received a PARPi as maintenance therapy
after first-line chemotherapy (n=23), and the 1st-control group comprised those who did not (n =
105). Similarly, the 2nd-PARPi group comprised patients not given a PARPi in their first-line
treatment (n = 30), and the 2nd-control group comprised those who were given a PARPi (n = 89).
Results:
Among the 23 patients in the 1st-PARPi group and the 105 patients in the 1st-control
group, nine and 99 were platinum-sensitive, and 14 and six were platinum-resistant, respectively
(hazard ratio [HR]: 14.46, P < 0.0001). Among the 30 patients in the 2nd-PARPi group and 89 patients
in the 2nd-control group, 10 and 71 were platinum-sensitive, and 20 and 18 were platinumresistant,
respectively (HR: 4.37, P < 0.0001). Age, stage, residual tumor, the courses of platinumbased
chemotherapy, and breast cancer susceptibility gene mutations were not associated with platinum
sensitivity when using a PARPi as maintenance therapy after first- and second-line chemotherapy.
Conclusion:
Patients with rHGSOC using a PARPi were more likely to be platinum-sensitive and
develop platinum resistance independent of PARPi duration. Care should be taken when using a
PARPi as maintenance therapy after first- and second-line chemotherapy.