INTRODUCTION: Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are a targeted 
therapy option for ovarian cancer. The goal of this review was to organize and 
summarize the clinical trials evaluating PARP inhibitor therapy in ovarian 
cancer as monotherapy, maintenance therapy after partial or complete remission 
to therapy or as a part of a combination regimen.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, data from the United States 
Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) and proceedings from scientific 
conferences were searched for published and unpublished data pertaining to 
clinical trials and approvals of PARP inhibitor use in ovarian cancer.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: There have been 36 published phase 1, 2 and 3 studies 
evaluating the use of olaparib, niraparib, veliparib and rucaparib in ovarian 
cancer. Olaparib and rucaparib have been approved by the US FDA as monotherapy 
for advanced recurrent ovarian cancer. Niraparib and olaparib have been approved 
by the US FDA for maintenance therapy after partial or complete remission in 
recurrent ovarian cancer. There are currently ten phase 3 trials evaluating PARP 
inhibitors at various timepoints in ovarian cancer therapy including at the time 
of primary adjuvant therapy, as maintenance therapy after primary chemotherapy, 
as monotherapy for recurrent cancer and as maintenance therapy after 
chemotherapy for recurrence.
CONCLUSIONS: The landscape of PARP inhibitor use for ovarian cancer is rapidly 
evolving and PARP inhibitors have become more available as a targeted therapy 
option for ovarian cancer treatment.