Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerases (PARPs) and PARP Inhibitor-Targeted Therapeutics

Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2019;19(2):206-212. doi: 10.2174/1871520618666181109164645.

Abstract

Background: Poly-ADP-ribosylation, that is, adding ADP-ribose moieties to a protein, is a unique type of protein post-translational modification that regulates various cellular processes such as DNA repair, mitosis, transcription, and cell growth. Small-molecule inhibitors of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1) have been developed as anticancer agents because inhibition of PARP enzymes may be a synthetic lethal strategy for cancers with or BRCA2 mutations. However, there are still questions surrounding PARP inhibitors.

Methods/results: Data were collected from Pubmed, Medline, through searching of these keywords: "PARP", "BRCA", "Synthetic lethal" and "Tankyrase inhibitors". We describe the current knowledge of PARP inhibition and its effects on DNA damage; mechanisms of resistance to PARP inhibitors; the evolution of PARP inhibitors; and the potential use of PARP5a/b (tankyrases) inhibitors in cancer treatment.

Conclusion: PARP inhibitors are already showing promise as therapeutic tools, especially in the management of BRCA-mutated breast and ovarian cancers but also in tumors with dysfunctional BRCA genes. Small-molecule tankyrase inhibitors are important for increasing our understanding of tankyrase biology.

Keywords: BRCA mutation; PARP inhibitors; Tankyrase inhibitors; ovarian cancers; poly-ADP-ribose polymerase 1; synthetic lethal..

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • BRCA2 Protein / antagonists & inhibitors
  • BRCA2 Protein / genetics
  • BRCA2 Protein / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / metabolism*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • BRCA2 Protein
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases