Evaluation of maintenance treatment with PARP inhibitors in ovarian carcinoma patients responding to platinum therapy: Use of restricted mean survival time as an index of efficacy.

Background: Maintenance therapy using poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPIs) is an important therapeutic option in advanced ovarian cancer after platinum-based chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated randomized studies (n = 5) describing the effect of maintenance therapy with PARPIs; they were obtained mainly by searching PubMed. Patient data for the analysis were derived from progression-free survival curves. Restricted mean survival time (RMST) and 95% confidence interval were estimated for individual arms of each trial.

Results: The three PARPIs used (olaparib, niraparib, rucaparib) all showed a higher effectiveness than placebo. The gains in progression-free survival were 6 - 8 months.

Conclusion: Maintenance therapy studies provide evidence that olaparib, niraparib, rucaparib are effective treatments for advanced ovarian cancer.