The integrity of the genome is maintained by DNA repair mechanisms. When these mechanisms are defective, it can lead to genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer. For instance, mutations in BRCA1/BRCA2 genes impair DNA repair, increasing the risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Targeting these defective pathways can lead to synthetic lethality, as seen with PARP inhibitors in BRCA-mutated cancers.
