Maintenance therapy for platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer with a history of PARPi administration

This study explored new insights into the selection criteria for maintenance therapy for platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer by comparing the efficacy of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) and bevacizumab in patients with a history of PARPi administration.

Between April 2014 and December 2024, 81 patients underwent maintenance therapy with either PARPi (52 patients) or bevacizumab (29 patients) at our institution. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) after the end of the last chemotherapy treatment.

The median PFS did not differ significantly between the PARPi and bevacizumab groups (9 vs. 12 months, p=0.942). Similarly, in the propensity score-matched cohort (15 pairs), no significant difference was observed between the PARPi and bevacizumab groups (p=0.444). In the PARPi group, a history of PARPi administration was associated with a significant difference in PFS in both univariate and multivariate analyses (PARPi-naïve vs. PARPi-experienced: 12 vs. 4 months, p=0.002; hazard ratio=3.24, 95% confidence interval=1.56-6.69). In the bevacizumab group, a history of PARPi administration was not associated with a significant difference in PFS. Among patients with a history of PARPi administration, the bevacizumab group had a significantly better PFS than the PARPi group (PARPi rechallenge vs. bevacizumab: 4 vs. 12 months, p=0.042), and the proportion of patients experiencing platinum-resistant recurrence during maintenance therapy was higher in the PARPi rechallenge group (58.8%) than in the bevacizumab group (20.0%) (p=0.049).

Maintenance therapy with bevacizumab may be more beneficial for patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer who have a history of PARPi administration.