PARP inhibitors in castration-resistant prostate cancer

Somatic or germline mutations in genes regulating DNA damage repair have been noted in around 20% of patients with advanced prostate cancer. Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have shown encouraging efficacy in prostate cancer patients with DNA repair mutations. Two PARP inhibitors, olaparib, and rucaparib have recently received FDA approval for treatment of patients with advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), while several trials with other PARP inhibitors are ongoing. Here, we briefly summarize the current data supporting the efficacy of PARP inhibitors in advanced CRPC.