Background: We conducted this meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of PARP inhibitors with or without chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for advanced breast cancer. Methods: A meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis were performed using RevMan 5.2 analysis software. Results: Six eligible randomized clinical trials involving 2080 patients were included. Regimens containing PARP inhibitors were significantly associated with higher objective response rate, longer progression-free survival and overall survival. The PARP inhibitor regimen group had a significantly higher rate of grade ≥3 thrombocytopenia than the chemotherapy-only group. Conclusion: Regimens containing PARP inhibitors are effective and safe for BRCA-mutated advanced breast cancer patients. The efficacy appears to be only marginal in patients with BRCA status unselected.
Keywords: BRCA; PARP; breast cancer; homologous recombination; meta-analysis.
Lay abstract The present meta-analysis was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of PARP inhibitors with or without chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for advanced breast cancer. Six eligible randomized clinical trials involving 2080 patients were included. Regimens containing PARP inhibitors were significantly associated with higher objective response rate, longer progression-free survival and better overall survival, but a higher rate of grade ≥3 thrombocytopenia. Regimens containing PARP inhibitors are effective and safe for patients with advanced breast cancer who have a BRCA gene mutation. The efficacy appears to be only marginal in patients with BRCA status unselected.