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PALB2: Options for Cancer Treatment

Learn about personalized treatment options for people with a PALB2 mutation. Stay up to date by signing up for our community newsletter.
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Cancer 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" we are referring to people assigned male at birth. When we use the term "women" we are referring to people assigned female at birth.


Breast cancer surgical decisions 

Because of the high risk for a second breast cancer diagnosis, women who are diagnosed with breast cancer who test positive for an in may choose  mastectomy rather than and radiation. Mutation carriers who undergo mastectomy are less likely to develop a second breast cancer. 

PARP inhibitors for cancer treatment

PARP inhibitors are a type of that work by blocking a protein used to repair damaged . They were initially developed to treat cancers in people with an inherited  or  mutation. Since then, research and additional approvals have expanded use of PARP inhibitors to more situations. People with a  mutation who have been diagnosed with cancer may want to ask their doctor about  therapy. 
 

PARP inhibitors for and breast cancer

Although PARP inhibitors have not specifically received approval to treat breast cancer in people with mutations, the American Society of Medical Genetics released a paper suggesting that people with  mutations and cancer should be considered for the same treatments and clinical trials as people with a or mutation. Below are guidelines for PARP inhibitors for treating breast cancer in people with a or mutation. 

  • Treatment 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 for breast cancer: Based on results from a large clinical trial, experts recommend one year of the   for people with  breast cancer who have an inherited  mutation and who are at high risk for recurrence.
     

PARP inhibitors for prostate cancer (mCRPC)

The PARP inhibitors, Lynparza () and () have received  approval to treat , in people with a or other gene 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 people with an inherited  mutation and advanced ovarian cancer learn if they may benefit from a 

  • after treatment
    • testing can help women with an inherited  mutation and advanced ovarian cancer learn if they may benefit from the Lynparza?() in combination with 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 () are both 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.

PARP inhibitors for pancreatic cancer

Although PARP inhibitors have not specifically received approval to treat panceratic cancer in people with mutations, the American Society of Medical Genetics released a paper suggesting that people with  mutations and cancer should be considered for the same treatments and clinical trials as people with a or mutation. The  Lynparza is  approved for maintenance treatment of pancreatic cancer in people with a mutation whose disease has not progressed after completing  platinum-based chemotherapy.

PARP inhibitors for other advanced cancers with no treatment options

If you have a mutation and advanced cancer that no longer responds to standard therapy, you may want to talk with your doctor about whether you might benefit from treatment with a


Last updated August 31, 2024