niraparib and Pneumonia

We aimed to evaluate the risk of PARP inhibitors (PARPis) causing pneumonitis in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and in the real-world practice.. First, a systematic review based on meta-analysis was conducted. RCTs with available data reporting pneumonitis events for PARPis were eligible for analysis. Second, we conducted a disproportionality analysis based on data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database to characterize the main features of PARPi-related pneumonitis.. PARPis increased the risk of pneumonitis that can result in serious outcomes and tend to occur early. Early recognition and management of PARPi-pneumonitis is of vital importance in clinical practice. The mechanisms and risk factors should be studied further to improve clinical understanding and innovative treatment strategies for these diseases.

Topics: Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; Humans; Incidence; Indazoles; Neoplasms; Phthalazines; Piperazines; Piperidines; Pneumonia; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Time Factors

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) proteins are used by cells in several DNA repair processes. PARP inhibition can result in preferential death of cancer cells when another mechanism for repairing DNA is defective. Two PARP inhibitors, olaparib and rucaparib, have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of recurrent, BRCA-associated ovarian cancer. More recently, these two and a third PARP inhibitor, niraparib, were approved by the FDA as maintenance therapy following platinum-based chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer. This has caused a paradigm shift in disease management and a challenge for clinicians, who must decide how best to use these agents in individualized treatment. The oral formulation is attractive to patients, but adverse effects such as nausea and fatigue can impact quality of life. As clinicians become comfortable selecting PARP inhibitors and managing associated toxicities, future steps will be to investigate how to safely administer them in combination with other therapies.

Topics: Anemia; Creatinine; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Interactions; Exanthema; Fatigue; Female; Genes, BRCA1; Genes, BRCA2; Heart Rate; Humans; Hypertension; Indazoles; Leukopenia; Mutation; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Nasopharyngitis; Nausea; Ovarian Neoplasms; Piperidines; Pneumonia; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; Thrombocytopenia; Transaminases; Vomiting