Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Evaluating In Vitro DNA Damage Using Comet Assay
Published on: October 11, 2017
Rucaparib and Niraparib in Advanced Ovarian Cancer
1Cooper University Hospital - Pharmacy, Camden, New Jersey.
Abstract:
Rucaparib and niraparib are two of the newest U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved PARP inhibitors, joining olaparib with indications in ovarian cancer. Both drugs have led to meaningful responses when used as monotherapy in previously treated ovarian cancers, with niraparib demonstrating activity in both BRCA-mutated and BRCA wild-type tumors. Both rucaparib and niraparib have remarkably increased progression-free survival as maintenance therapy for patients with relapsed, platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer who responded to their most recent platinum-based regimen. In this setting, these drugs appear to be similar in efficacy but have distinct pharmacokinetic and adverse effect profiles. This article will guide the advanced practitioner through the efficacy, safety, and pharmacologic profiles of rucaparib and niraparib, while benchmarking them against olaparib for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Insights
Rucaparib and niraparib are new PARP inhibitors for ovarian cancer, showing efficacy in relapsed cases. They offer distinct safety and pharmacokinetic profiles compared to olaparib.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Rucaparib and niraparib are U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved PARP inhibitors for ovarian cancer.
- Olaparib is also approved, and these agents have shown responses as monotherapy in previously treated ovarian cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To guide advanced practitioners through the efficacy, safety, and pharmacologic profiles of rucaparib and niraparib.
- To benchmark these agents against olaparib for ovarian cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical trial data for rucaparib, niraparib, and olaparib.
- Comparative analysis of efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic data.
Main Results:
- Niraparib shows activity in both BRCA-mutated and BRCA wild-type tumors.
- Both rucaparib and niraparib significantly increase progression-free survival in relapsed, platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer as maintenance therapy.
- While similar in efficacy, rucaparib and niraparib have distinct pharmacokinetic and adverse effect profiles.
Conclusions:
- Rucaparib and niraparib are valuable additions to ovarian cancer treatment, particularly in the maintenance setting for relapsed, platinum-sensitive disease.
- Understanding their distinct profiles is crucial for optimal patient management.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists
Inhibition of Cdk Activity
Treatment Resistant Cancers
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists

