Targeting the molecular defect in BRCA-deficient tumors for cancer therapy.
Targeted therapies exploiting specific molecular defects in cancer cells promise to overcome roadblocks in the development of effective anticancer drugs. A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine on the early clinical evaluation of Olaparib in cancers lacking the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes exemplifies this promising new trend.
Venkitaraman
Ashok R
AR
The Medical Research Council Cancer Cell Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Cambridge, UK. arv22@cam.ac.uk
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D015195:Drug Design; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D010793:Phthalazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D010793:Phthalazines; D010879:Piperazines; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; C531550:olaparib