title: BRCA-associated pancreatic cancer: the evolving management.
abstract: Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers. While BRCA-associated pancreatic cancers are uncommon, the distinctive phenotype of this malignancy may offer unique therapeutic targets. At the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, a review of the characteristics and outcomes of one large case series (Abstract #278), however, did not reveal a benefit to first-line platinum chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. In another study (Abstract #147), substantial responses were observed in both patients with BRCA2-associated pancreatic cancer treated with the poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor ABT-888 (veliparib). We will review these abstracts and our current knowledge of the treatment for patients with BRCA-associated pancreatic cancer. In this group of patients, these new results continue to shape our understanding of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine and Cancer Center, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Muhammad Wasif
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Saif
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy*; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D017671:Platinum Compounds; C521013:veliparib