#NYU Langone #BRCA2 #PARP inhibitors

New Discoveries on BRCA2 Gene and PARP Inhibitors

Recent research conducted by scientists at NYU Langone Health has uncovered significant insights into the role of the BRCA2 gene in cancer treatment, particularly regarding the efficacy of PARP inhibitors, a class of precision cancer drugs. Published in the journal Nature, this study highlights how BRCA2 plays a critical part in determining which cancer cells are susceptible to these innovative therapies.

As human cells undergo division and growth, they continuously face DNA damage that necessitates prompt repair to avert cancerous developments. The BRCA2 gene is integral to a mechanism known as homology-directed repair, which is vital in this repair process. However, mutations can occur in BRCA2, impairing its DNA repair function and increasing cancer risk. Understanding the intricacies of BRCA2's functions may provide new avenues for therapy that can target specific mutations.

The research reveals that when BRCA2 is non-functional due to mutations, cancer cells may rely heavily on an alternative repair pathway involving poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1). PARP inhibitors are designed to disrupt this backup system, effectively leading to cell death in these mutated cancer cells. This finding emphasizes the importance of BRCA2 activity levels in influencing the effectiveness of PARP inhibition across various cancer types.

The significance of this study lies not only in its revelations about BRCA2 but also in its implications for developing more effective treatment protocols for patients with different cancer types. While previous estimates suggest that a notable percentage of ovarian, breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers exhibit BRCA2 mutations, pinpointing the exact percentage of cancer cells with functioning BRCA2 can be challenging. According to previous research, approximately 15–20% of ovarian cancers and 6–10% of breast cancer cases feature BRCA2 mutations, either inherited or newly developed during tumor growth.

Eli Rothenberg, Ph.D., a senior author of the study, highlights this research's importance as part of a broader initiative at NYU Langone and Perlmutter Cancer Center aimed at linking molecular breakthroughs with clinical advancements. The collaboration between basic scientists and clinical teams will help translate these molecular insights into actionable diagnostics and novel therapeutic approaches.

A pivotal component of this research was the use of advanced imaging techniques developed at NYU Langone. These specialized tools provided a