The clinical development of inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase
1Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Abstract:
A number of inhibitors of DNA repair have been evaluated or are undergoing development as potential cancer treatments. Inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) are of particular interest in treating hereditary breast cancers occurring in patients who are carriers of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. In vitro PARP inhibitors are highly cytotoxic to cell lines carrying BRCA mutations while only minimally toxic to cell lines without these mutations. This is thought to be due to a phenomenon known as synthetic lethality where the accumulation of single-strand breaks consequent on PARP inhibition are converted to double-strand breaks on cell division. Cancer cells in BRCA carriers are uniquely unable to repair the consequent double-strand breaks that result during cell division. PARP inhibitors were initially developed as possible chemo-potentiating agents but have now been evaluated clinically in BRCA-related tumors, showing remarkable single-agent activity. The potential future development and use is reviewed.
Insights
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors show promise for treating BRCA-mutated hereditary breast cancers. These drugs exploit synthetic lethality, selectively targeting cancer cells with DNA repair deficiencies for effective cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- DNA repair inhibitors are investigated as cancer therapeutics.
- Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are crucial for BRCA1/BRCA2-mutated hereditary breast cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the development and clinical evaluation of PARP inhibitors.
- To discuss their role in treating BRCA-related cancers.
Main Methods:
- In vitro studies assessing cytotoxicity of PARP inhibitors on cell lines with and without BRCA mutations.
- Clinical evaluation of PARP inhibitors as single agents in BRCA-related tumors.
Main Results:
- PARP inhibitors demonstrate high cytotoxicity in BRCA-mutated cell lines, minimal toxicity in wild-type lines.
- Remarkable single-agent activity observed in clinical trials for BRCA-related tumors.
Conclusions:
- PARP inhibitors leverage synthetic lethality, targeting cancer cells unable to repair DNA double-strand breaks.
- These inhibitors represent a significant advancement in treating hereditary breast cancers and have potential for future development.
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