Info
PARP inhibitors
Treatment
What it means
A class of targeted drugs that block a DNA-repair mechanism used by cancer cells, especially those with a BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation. Example: olaparib. Used mainly in ovarian, breast and prostate cancer.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- BRCA1 / BRCA2
- Genes that, in their normal form, help repair damaged DNA. An inherited mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 significantly increases the risk of breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer, and can guide decisions about intensive screening or treatment (for example PARP inhibitors).
- Adjuvant treatment
- Treatment given after surgery or after the main treatment to reduce the risk of recurrence. It may be chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted therapy, depending on the type of cancer.
- Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)
- A hormonal treatment that lowers the level of testosterone in the body or blocks its effect, used in hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. It can be done with medication (injections) or surgically.
Other terms in “Treatment”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.