PARP inhibitors are small molecules currently used with success in the treatment of certain cancer patients. Their action was first shown to be specific to cells with DNA repair deficiencies, such as BRCA-mutant cancers. However, recent work has suggested clinical interest of these drugs beyond this group of patients. Preclinical data on relationships between the activity of PARP inhibitors and other proteins involved in DNA repair exist, and this review will only highlight findings on the SLX4 protein and its interacting protein partners. As suggested from these available data and depending on further validations, new treatment strategies could be developed in order to broaden the use for PARP inhibitors in cancer patients.
Keywords: DNA repair; SLX4; cancer; olaparib; treatment.