PARP inhibitors to treat ovarian cancer: Mechanisms of action and resistance

Bosch, Louise M. (2020) PARP inhibitors to treat ovarian cancer: Mechanisms of action and resistance. Bachelor's Thesis, Life Science and Technology.

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Abstract

Ovarian cancer is a rare type of cancer, but it causes relatively many deaths with a 5-year survival rate of less than 50%. This high death rate is thought to be the result of multiple factors, including the heterogeneity of the disease and the often-observed resistance against current treatment. Recently, a new type of treatment has been introduced, showing specifically promising response rates in tumours harbouring BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. These new drugs are called PARP inhibitors and their main function is the inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), a protein involved in several DNA repair mechanisms. PARP-inhibition in cells deficient in homologous recombination leads to cell death by the mechanism of synthetic lethality. However, resistance to treatment with PARP inhibitors has been observed quite rapidly after their introduction in the clinic. Here, the mechanisms behind PARP inhibitors are discussed together with the mechanisms of resistance. Understanding these mechanisms could help to design improved PARP inhibitors or create new treatment combinations to reduce resistance. All in all, PARP inhibitors show promising results that could even be improved through adjustments or new treatment combinations.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Vugt, M.A.T.M. van
Degree programme:	Life Science and Technology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	13 May 2020 11:29
Last Modified:	13 May 2020 11:29
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/21879

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