Targeting DNA Damage Response and Repair as a Therapeutic Strategy for Ovarian Cancer.

Large-scale genomic studies have demonstrated that ovarian cancer is characterized by frequent genetic and epigenetic alterations of gene members of the homologous recombination repair pathway. Homologous recombination repair deficiency induces genomic instability and hyperdependence on alternative DNA repair mechanisms, and is associated with enhanced sensitivity to double-strand break-inducing agents such as platinum analogues and poly(adenosine diphosphate)-ribose polymerase inhibitors. The authors review the DNA repair pathway alterations that are present in ovarian cancer, and discuss current and emerging therapeutic approaches that target the DNA damage response and repair focusing on chemotherapy and poly(adenosine diphosphate)-ribose polymerase inhibitors.