The Emerging Role of PARP Inhibitors in the Treatment of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Abstract EN

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is an important novel target in cancer therapy.

This enzyme is essential in the repair of single-stranded breaks in DNA via the base excision repair pathway.

Drugs which inhibit PARP are emerging as a promising new class of anticancer agents particularly effective against tumors which have lost homologous recombination (HR) through loss of functional BRCA1 and BRCA2.

PARP inhibitors potentially represent a major breakthrough for patients with hereditary BRCA-associated cancers.

Furthermore their role in sporadic epithelial ovarian cancer is emerging with identification of additional subpopulations of women who may benefit a priority.

This paper will summarize the mechanism of action of PARP inhibition and its role in the treatment of BRCA1- and 2-associated cancers.

We will then expand on the broader relevance and future directions for PARP inhibition in the clinical setting.