Sylvester was Site for Ovarian Cancer Trials with Practice-Changing Findings

Brian Slomovitz, M.D., chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, was the principal investigator at Sylvester for two trials on PARP inhibitors for ovarian cancer published in the New England Journal of Medicine on September 28. The findings were also presented that day at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Barcelona.

“In summary, the trials demonstrated that PARP inhibitors can help women with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer live longer without disease than those not taking a PARP inhibitor,” explained Dr. Slomovitz.

The VELIA trial found veliparib plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment, then as maintenance therapy, increased progression-free survival. Sylvester was the only South Florida cancer center where this trial was available, out of 202 sites around the world. It was led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Across more than 1,000 participants, combination therapy achieved progression-free survival of 23.5 months, compared with 17.3 months for those who did not receive veliparib.

“For me it is important that we have these trials for the women we serve in Miami and throughout South Florida and beyond,” said Dr. Slomovitz.

Another international trial known as PRIMA studied a different PARP inhibitor, niraparib, in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer who responded to platinum-based chemotherapy. Sylvester also participated in this study, which again showed significantly longer progression-free survival in those taking the drug compared to placebo.

Gail Silver of West Palm Beach is one of the PRIMA study participants at Sylvester.  She doesn’t know if she’s taking the actual drug or a placebo as maintenance, but she has been in remission for more than two years.

“I wanted to do everything I can to survive and ovarian cancer is known to have a high risk of recurrence,” said Silver, who is still in the trial.

These latest findings are already changing the way patients at Sylvester are being treated.

“Based on these studies all women with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer will be offered a PARP inhibitor to keep them disease-free for longer periods of time,” said Dr. Slomovitz.

Tags: Dr. Brian Slomovitz, New England Journal of Medicine, ovarian cancer, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center