Emergence of rationally designed therapeutic strategies for breast cancer targeting DNA repair mechanisms
-
* Corresponding author: Peter M Glazer peter.glazer@yale.edu
Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208040, New Haven, CT 06520-8040, USA
Breast Cancer Research 2010, 12:203 doi:10.1186/bcr2566
Published: 30 April 2010Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that many cancers, including BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated breast cancers, are deficient in DNA repair processes. Both hereditary and sporadic breast cancers have been found to have significant downregulation of repair factors. This has provided opportunities to exploit DNA repair deficiencies, whether acquired or inherited. Here, we review efforts to exploit DNA repair deficiencies in tumors, with a focus on breast cancer. A variety of agents, including PARP (poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase) inhibitors, are currently under investigation in clinical trials and available results will be reviewed.