cisplatin + olaparib

This drug is a combination of two anticancer agents, cisplatin and olaparib, used together primarily in cancer treatment to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Cisplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy agent that causes DNA crosslinking and damage leading to apoptosis of cancer cells. Olaparib is an oral small molecule inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzymes PARP1 and PARP2, which are involved in DNA repair. By inhibiting PARP, olaparib exploits defects in DNA repair pathways such as those with BRCA mutations, leading to accumulation of DNA damage and cell death. The combination aims to potentiate the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin by impairing the cancer cells' ability to repair DNA damage caused by cisplatin through PARP inhibition. This combination has been studied particularly in advanced pancreatic cancer and other BRCA-associated tumors including ovarian, breast, prostate cancers. Clinical studies have shown that combining olaparib with low doses of cisplatin can be effective but may increase hematologic toxicity; dosing regimens are carefully evaluated for safety and tolerability. Olaparib was developed by AstraZeneca under brand name Lynparza.

Other names

cisplatin + olaparib