We're one of seven cancer charities who have joined forces to call for exploration into whether a cancer drug called a PARP inhibitor – already used to treat cancer - could one day be used to prevent cancer in people at high genetic risk.
In a statement issued today, Yorkshire Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Now, Cancer Research UK, Ovarian Cancer Action, Pancreatic Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer UK and Worldwide Cancer Research have set out their collective position on the potential of PARP inhibitors as a preventative treatment, and the critical steps needed to advance this promising area of research, with the goal of saving lives both in the UK and around the world.
Together, the charities are calling on the research community to pioneer early-stage studies and clinical trials that could transform the future for people with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations – genetic changes that significantly increase the risk of developing breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.
The statement represents a united commitment to what the seven charities describe as a “vision for precision cancer prevention”.
Dr Kathryn Scott, Chief Executive at Yorkshire Cancer Research said:
“This research could mark the beginning of a new era in precision cancer prevention. We’re seeing a growing need for more personalised, less invasive options for people at high genetic risk of cancer. PARP inhibitors could be part of that future.”
Right now, some people with BRCA mutations may be offered preventive surgery, regular screening, or medications like Tamoxifen. But these options aren’t suitable for everyone, and some can be life-changing or emotionally difficult.
It’s estimated 1 in 400 people in the UK carry a BRCA mutation, but a high proportion of people with a high-risk gene for cancer are unaware of it. In some groups, like people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, people from the Shetlands and people with ancestral links to Greenland, the risk is estimated to be up to ten times higher. This means more than 150,000 people could be living with a significantly increased risk of cancer without knowing it.
The potential of PARP inhibitors for cancer prevention was hinted at in the OlympiA trial, which showed the drugs may reduce the risk of a second new cancer in people with breast cancer who have a BRCA mutation. Now, the charities want to know if these drugs could stop cancer before it starts.
Before any clinical trials can begin, researchers need to answer key questions, including understanding how PARP inhibitors work in healthy people with BRCA mutations, whether people would be open to taking PARP inhibitors as a preventive measure and what dose would be safe and effective and what the side effects might be.
The charities are calling for more investment in prevention research, which remains underfunded. Recent data from the National Institute for Health and Care Research shows just £22 million is currently being spent on cancer prevention compared to £195 million on cancer research as a whole.
This call for research aligns with the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, which aims to shift the NHS from a system that treats sickness to one that actively prevents it, placing greater emphasis on early intervention and personalised prevention.
Dr Scott added:
“We’re committed to driving this research forward. Some of the charities can contribute funding, others can connect researchers with people who carry BRCA mutations. Together, we can help shape a future where fewer people face a cancer diagnosis.”
Dr Simon Vincent, chief scientific officer at Breast Cancer Now said:
“PARP inhibitors being used to treat several different cancers is testament to the tireless efforts of world-class researchers – including many funded by Breast Cancer Now and other UK charities. They created a new way to treat cancer targeting its genetic weaknesses. One of these drugs, olaparib, has already treated thousands of people worldwide with breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer.
“Now, we are excited to be a part of this group of charities driving forward research into the potential of using PARP inhibitors to stop cancer developing in the first place for people at high risk due to their genes.
“For people with an inherited risk of breast cancer, current risk-reducing options - such as surgery or hormone therapy - can be difficult and life altering.
“We urgently need research to understand the effectiveness of PARP inhibitors as a risk-reducing option - and give the estimated 1 in 400 people in the UK that carry a BRCA alteration, a better quality of life.”
Dr David Crosby, Head of Prevention and Early Detection Research at Cancer Research UK, said:
“Preventing cancer in carriers of mutated BRCA genes is a huge and extremely important challenge – more can and must be done to help families affected by this risk. The potential for use of PARP inhibitors to be used in this setting is of interest and should be explored, as part of a wider effort to reduce risk of cancer in a targeted, mechanistically informed manner.”
Diana Jupp, CEO of Pancreatic Cancer UK, said:
“With over half of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer dying within three months, it is vitally important that we improve the early detection of this devastating disease. So, it is exciting to see preventative treatments such as PARP inhibitors coming onto the horizon that could help us to monitor some groups of people who are at higher risk – including those with genetic risk factors like BRCA.
“We are delighted to be part of this initiative aimed at driving forward this area of research so that promising new preventative treatments can be taken into clinical trials as soon as possible. For too long people affected by the deadliest common cancer have only had hope to hold on to, but we are now starting to see real progress in research which we hope will soon translate into breakthroughs in the detection and prevention of pancreatic cancer.”
Dr Matthew Hobbs, Director of Research at Prostate Cancer UK, said:
“At Prostate Cancer UK, we’re committed to funding and supporting research that will help men with prostate cancer live longer and better lives. PARP Inhibitors like Olaparib can be effective treatments for men with BRCA gene mutations whose prostate cancer has spread round their body and we funded some of the research that was instrumental in bringing this class of drugs into prostate cancer. Now, we want to know if PARP inhibitors could offer even greater benefit if used earlier in prostate cancer treatment, possibly preventing cancers from progressing or recurring.
“It’s essential to leverage the strength of the charity sector by working together to address issues that span multiple cancers and grasp potential opportunities for patients. As the largest funder of prostate cancer research in the UK, we’re delighted to join in this collaborative effort, and we will continue to work in partnership with fellow cancer charities bringing our focus and expertise to ensure that it drives better outcomes for men with or at risk of prostate cancer.”
Marie-Claire Platt, Director of Research and Policy at Ovarian Cancer Action, said:
“Today an ovarian cancer diagnosis means you are more likely to die than survive. But for those with a BRCA gene mutation, prevention offers hope to change the future – but it comes with a life-changing price. We need significant investment to develop options for people to prevent cancer without affecting the rest of their lives.”