Specific features of drug sensitivity of hereditary cancers

• Published in: Voprosy onkologij Vol. 62; no. 2; p. 221
• Main Author: Imyanitov, E N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russia (Federation) 2016
• Subjects: Animals; BRCA1 Protein - genetics; BRCA1 Protein - metabolism; BRCA2 Protein - genetics; BRCA2 Protein - metabolism; Cisplatin - therapeutic use; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm - drug effects; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm - genetics; Humans; Mitomycin - therapeutic use; Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary - drug therapy; Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary - genetics; Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary - metabolism; Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary - pathology; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0507-3758

Until recently the detection of carriers of mutations in hereditary cancer genes was aimed almost exclusively to the detection of subjects-at-risk, and consequently, personalized monitoring and preventive actions. However, it was revealed several years ago that some hereditary cancers are characterized by unique biological features and, therefore, unusual spectrum of drug sensitivity. For example, BRCA1/2-associated cancers usually demonstrate somatic loss of the remaining gene allele, and, hence, tumor-specific defects of DNA repair of double-strand breaks. This mechanism determines increased sensitivity of BRCA1/2-related cancers to cisplatin, mitomycin C and PARP inhibitors. Cancers arising as a part of Lynch syndrome can be effectively treated by the modulators of immune response. Tumors in patients with tuberous sclerosis often regress after administration of mTOR inhibitors. For the time being, there is already about a dozen of drugs demonstrating specific activity towards certain categories of hereditary cancers.