title: Veliparib for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ovarian cancer represents the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, with an incidence of 6.1 cases per 100.000 women and a cumulative lifetime risk of 0.5%. Treatment is based on debulking surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy, with the potential combination with taxane. However, the recently available data on the genetic basis and aetiology of ovarian cancer has led to the development of new anticancer drugs. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are one of the most promising new classes of targeted agents currently under investigation for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Veliparib is a small molecule that inhibits both PARP-1 and PARP-2 and was originally shown to be efficacious in BRCA-associated tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This manuscript reviews the Phase I and II studies investigating the use of veliparib in ovarian cancer. This article also provides and discusses the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of veliparib.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is still being discussed whether PARP inhibitors should be used in a front-line or relapsed setting, alone or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy or as maintenance treatment. In terms of veliparib, further investigations are needed to explore its full potential in ovarian cancer. It is hoped that the ongoing phase 3 trials will help to further elucidate it potential as a treatment option.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , IRCCS-Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bogliolo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , IRCCS-Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cassani
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , IRCCS-Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dominoni
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , IRCCS-Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Musacchi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro and University of Genoa , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , IRCCS-Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Arsenio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spinillo
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro and University of Genoa , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , IRCCS-Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gardella
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015195:Drug Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; C521013:veliparib
keywords: PARP inhibitors; Veliparib; chemotherapy; ovarian cancer therapy