[Synthetic lethality as a new concept for the treatment of cancer]

Abstract

Following DNA damage, cells activate a complex DNA-damage-response (DDR) signaling network to arrest the cell cycle, repair DNA and, if the extend of damage is beyond repair capacity, induce apoptosis. DDR genes are among the most commonly mutated genes in human cancer and it is believed that these lesions promote a "MUTATOR-PHENOTYPE" that fuels the runaway proliferation of cancer cells. However, these genetic lesions can also be seen as the "Achilles heel" of cancer. These tumor cell-specific vulnerabilities are of extraordinary clinical interest, since they allow genetically-guided novel therapeutic regimens for the treatment of cancer. Here, we discuss such a novel therapeutic concept - synthetic lethality. We focus on the first successful clinical applications of synthetic lethality for the treatment of different cancer entities. In addition, we give a brief review of recently developed, synthetic lethality-based approaches that are close to clinical testing.