DNA Damage Repair Deficiency in Prostate Cancer

Molecular-targeted therapies and treatment stratification based on molecular biomarkers have rapidly gained momentum in the therapeutic spectrum for patients with prostate cancer, particularly those with aggressive disease. DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways are commonly impaired in prostate cancer. Recent studies have detailed mechanisms interconnecting the DDR with the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway as well as its interplay with the immune response. The prominent role of DDR deficiency in prostate cancer development and treatment response encourages innovative strategies for the detection of DDR deficiency in individual tumors. In this review, we describe recent preclinical and early clinical data on the exploitation of DDR defects as predictive biomarkers and also as molecular therapeutic targets.