Small molecule inhibitor shows promise in precision cancer targeting

Cancer cells with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations are key targets for cancer therapeutics. Yet, few agents can selectively eliminate cells deficient in BRCA, and none can do so without the risk of inducing drug resistance. Now scientists think they can help overcome that problem, thanks to their discovery of a molecule that selectively kills BRCA-deficient cancer cells by blocking the activity of an alternative DNA repair pathway.