Mar 21, 2009 10:28 am US/Eastern
PARP Inhibitors Used In The Treatment Of Cancer
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Parp inhibitors to help in the treatment of certain types of cancer.
CBS
Parp inhibitors are emerging as an exciting new class of drugs for dealing with cancer.
Women who have a fault in the BRCA 1 or 2 genes may be predisposed to breast and ovarian cancer.
Scientists are working on this new drug that may be effective in killing cancer cells in people who have faults in these genes.
Oncologist Charles Vogel is hoping to help women who have inherited the BRCA 1or 2 genes. He is conducting a clinical trial of a new drug for women who carry a fault in these genes, which makes them more likely to develop breast cancer and advanced ovarian cancer.
The drug is called a PARP inhibitor.
"What happens is when different chemotherapy drugs act on the DNA of tumor cells, they cause damage, " explained Dr. Vogel. "But the tumor cells are smart, and they can repair that damage. Yet, the PARP inhibitor is able to inhibit the ability of the tumor to repair that damage. "
It's that rejuvenation of the cancer cells that doctors hope to stop.
Dr. Vogel added, "PARP modifies things and you can see here it ends up in fully repaired DNA, meaning the tumor is revitalized, so if you can inhibit DNA repair then the tumor will be destroyed.
Right now, the PARP inhibitor drug is available for women who have advanced ovarian cancer and who also have the BRCA fault in their genes.
Dr. Vogel continued, "Evidence so far indicates that for some women with refractory ovarian cancer it's been almost like a wonder drug."
Doctors are hopeful this drug will lead to other advances in breast cancer therapies.
For more information on breast cancer, log on The Susan G. Komen For The Cure.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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