ASCO 2009 Report: Breast Cancer

PARP Inhibitors for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) — i.e., estrogen receptor (ER)-negative, progesterone receptor (PR)-negative, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative disease — accounts for about 15% of all breast cancers, is more common in younger patients and blacks, and is associated with aggressive clinical behavior, poor response to therapy, and short progression-free survival (PFS).

Data from a randomized phase II clinical trial suggest an approach to treating TNBC patients with agents that prevent the enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) from repairing DNA damage (including that caused by chemotherapeutic agents). Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can impair this fun…