Efficacy of subsequent therapies in patients with advanced ovarian cancer after first-line olaparib maintenance

The multinational phase 3 PAOLA-1 trial randomized patients with advanced ovarian cancer and response on first-line chemotherapy to olaparib plus bevacizumab or placebo plus bevacizumab, and found longer progression-free survival in the olaparib group. Results of first subsequent therapy (FST) after progression in this group have now been published. The median time from start of FST to start of second subsequent therapy (SST) was shorter in patients who progressed during olaparib-bevacizumab maintenance (median 6.1 months) than in patients who progressed after olaparib-bevacizumab maintenance (median 11.4 months). In multivariate analysis progression after versus during maintenance influenced time between FST and SST (HR 0.65; p=0.0011) independent of platinum-free interval or clinical risk. The authors conclude that the timing of disease progression relative to first-line olaparib maintenance may impact the efficacy of FST.