title: BRCAness revisited.
abstract: Over the past 20 years, there has been considerable progress in our understanding of the biological functions of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 cancer susceptibility genes. This has led to the development of new therapeutic approaches that target tumours with loss-of-function mutations in either BRCA1 or BRCA2. Tumours that share molecular features of BRCA-mutant tumours - that is, those with 'BRCAness' - may also respond to similar therapeutic approaches. Several paradigm shifts require a reassessment of the concept of BRCAness, how this property is assayed and its relevance to our understanding of tumour biology and the treatment of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.affiliation: UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashworth
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D010793:Phthalazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010793:Phthalazines; D010879:Piperazines; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; C495153:RAD51 protein, human; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase; C531550:olaparib