Niraparib as Maintenance Therapy in Germline ATM-mutated and Somatic BRCA2 -mutated Ovarian Cancer with Brain Metastases: A Case Report and Literature Review

Brain metastases from epithelial ovarian cancer are very rare with an incidence of only 1-2.5%. Many therapeutic methods such as surgery, irradiation and chemotherapy do produce survival benefits, but the overall outcome remains unsatisfactory. The BRCA (breast cancer susceptibility gene) mutation status seems to be associated with the development of brain metastases from ovarian cancer and these patients may benefit from treatment with PARP (poly ADP ribose polymerase) inhibitors. Here is a case where a Chinese female patient diagnosed with high-grade serous ovarian cancer with brain metastases was detected to have known germline ATM mutation and somatic BRCA2 mutation. The patient underwent whole brain radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy, commenced niraparib as maintenance treatment and then presented considerable clinical and radiological response.