Therapeutic targeting of the DNA damage response in prostate cancer

8 March 2021, 10:56 EST

Summary

Genetic and genomic testing have an increasingly important role in the oncology clinic. For patients with prostate cancer, germline genetic testing is now recommended for all men with high-risk and metastatic disease, and somatic multigene tumor testing is recommended for men with metastatic castration-resistant disease. The most common mutations that are present in men with advanced prostate cancer are in genes coordinating DNA repair and the DNA damage response.


Original Article

Therapeutic targeting of the DNA damage response in prostate cancer

Current Opinion in Oncology

Marshall, Catherine H.; Antonarakis, Emmanuel S.​​​​​​​


Abstract

Purpose of review 

The present article highlights the most common DNA repair gene mutations, using specific examples of individual genes or gene classes, and reviews the epidemiology and treatment implications for each one [with particular emphasis on poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibition and PD-1 blockade].

Recent findings 

Genetic and genomic testing have an increasingly important role in the oncology clinic. For patients with prostate cancer, germline genetic testing is now recommended for all men with high-risk and metastatic disease, and somatic multigene tumor testing is recommended for men with metastatic castration-resistant disease. The most common mutations that are present in men with advanced prostate cancer are in genes coordinating DNA repair and the DNA damage response.

Summary 

Although much of what is discussed currently remains investigational, it is clear that genomically-targeted treatments will become increasingly important for patients with prostate cancer in the near future and beyond.


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