PARPi focus the spotlight on replication fork protection in cancer

Nat Cell Biol. 2017 Oct 31;19(11):1309-1310. doi: 10.1038/ncb3638.

Abstract

PARP inhibitors (PARPi) kill BRCA1/2-mutated cancers, which become resistant when DNA repair functions are restored. Now, MUS81 nuclease inhibition due to EZH2 downregulation is found to restore DNA replication fork protection but not repair, leading to PARPi-resistance in mutant BRCA2 cells and patients. This challenges the DNA repair dominance in synthetic lethality.

MeSH terms

  • BRCA1 Protein / genetics
  • BRCA2 Protein / genetics
  • DNA Damage / drug effects
  • DNA Damage / genetics
  • DNA Repair / drug effects
  • DNA Repair / genetics
  • DNA Replication / drug effects*
  • DNA Replication / genetics
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / genetics
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / metabolism*

Substances

  • BRCA1 Protein
  • BRCA1 protein, human
  • BRCA2 Protein
  • BRCA2 protein, human
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases