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Review
. 2012 Jul;12(6):672-7.
doi: 10.2174/187152012800617759.

Triple-negative breast cancer and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors

Youngjin Park  1 , Ayako Moriyama, Tomoaki Kitahara, Yutaka Yoshida, Tasuku Urita, Ryoji Kato
Affiliations
Review

Triple-negative breast cancer and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors

Youngjin Park et al. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2012 Jul.

Abstract

Recent gene profiling studies have identified at least 5 major subtypes of breast cancer, including normal type, luminal A type, luminal B type, human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2 positive type, and basal-like type. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), showing no or low expressions of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and HER2, considered important clinical biomarkers, accounts for 10% to 20% of all breast cancers. Hormonal therapy and molecular targeted therapy are not indicated for the management of TNBC, resulting in poor outcomes. Because TNBC lacks clear-cut therapeutic targets, effective treatment strategies remain to be established. However, TNBC is known to share similar biologic characteristics with basal-like type breast cancer and is often accompanied by loss of functional BRCA, a gene-modifying enzyme. Breast cancer with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations is accompanied by activation of the enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). PARP, a DNA base-excision repair enzyme, is known to play a central role in gene repair, along with BRCA. Because some breast cancers with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are TNBC, the suppression of PARP has attracted attention as a new treatment strategy for TNBC. In this article, we review the clinical characteristics of TNBC, discuss problems in treatment, and briefly summarize the international development status of PARP inhibitors.

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