Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors combined with other small-molecular compounds for the treatment of ovarian cancer

Anticancer Drugs. 2019 Jul;30(6):554-561. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000000793.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease with complex molecular and genetic hallmarks. Benefitting from profound understanding of molecular mechanisms in ovarian cancer pathogenesis, novel targeted drugs have been actively explored in preclinical studies and clinical trials. Considered as one of the most potent and effective targeted therapies for the treatment of ovarian cancer, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPis) take advantages of synthetic lethality mechanisms to prevent DNA damage repair in cancer cells and cause their death, especially in cancers with BRCA mutations. Mounting evidence has indicated that the combination of PARPis with cytotoxic drugs or other targeted drugs has shown favorable synergistic effects. Excitingly, the antitumor activity of combination therapy of PARPis has been actively tested in multiple clinical trials and in-vitro or in-vivo experiments. In this review, we will briefly discuss the molecular mechanisms of PARPis combined with other therapeutic small-molecular compounds for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors
  • Small Molecule Libraries