What are Some Examples of Synthetic Lethality in Cancer?
One of the most well-known examples involves BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. These genes are crucial for DNA repair. Cancer cells with mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 are particularly sensitive to inhibitors of the PARP enzyme, which also plays a role in DNA repair. PARP inhibitors, such as olaparib, have shown effectiveness in treating cancers with these mutations by exploiting the concept of synthetic lethality.
