Sparrow Herbert-Herman Cancer Center releases findings of innovative TAPUR study 

LANSING, MI – A top Sparrow physician and researcher recently spoke to a prestigious national conference about Sparrow’s participation in a groundbreaking study of a cancer drug for patients with genetic mutations.

The results of the phase 2 Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) Study were presented by Gordan Srkalovic, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director of the Sparrow Herbert-Herman Cancer Center, at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting. ASCO is the primary study sponsor and manages all aspects of the study.

The findings, based on responses from 28 patients with 16 different types of tumors, suggest the drug talazoparib may be effective in any cancer that has a BRCA1/2 mutation – which results in uncontrollable cell growth and the inability to repair damaged DNA. The results exceeded researchers’ expectations.

“Nobody expected such a high response rate because these patients have advanced disease, and they were heavily pretreated and had exhausted all the other standard-of-care treatment options,” Dr. Srkalovic (left) said.

Women with BRCA1/2 genes have up to a 75 percent risk of developing breast cancer and up to a 50 percent risk of developing ovarian cancer during their lifetime. While risks in male carriers are not as high as female BRCA mutation carriers, they still face an increased potential of breast and pancreatic cancer, as well as an elevated risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

“This result opens an avenue for the treatment of cancers other than breast and ovarian ,” Dr. Srkalovic said.

The project is another example of Sparrow’s dedication to improving care for our patients by participating in high-quality clinical research. Sparrow provides world-class clinical research right here in Mid-Michigan with highly skilled physicians and leading-edge medicine available only at the nation’s leading medical programs.

The Sparrow Herbert-Herman Cancer Center is a leader in clinical trials nationwide, with over 35 currently active trials. For more information, go to Sparrow.org/Cancer.

Photo courtesy of Sparrow Health System