Background:

ABT-888, also named as Veliparib, is poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor and has demonstrated excellentin vivoefficacy in a broad spectrum of preclinical tumor models in combination with a variety of cytotoxic agents. PARP is involved in DNA repair and elevated PARP levels can result in resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation. So, PARP inhibitors hold promise as chemotherapy and radiation sensitizers. ABT-888 is also active on microsatellite instability (MSI) cell lines harboring mutations in both MRE11 and RAD50 genes compared to microsatellite stable (MSS) cell lines (wild-type for both genes).

Reference

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Xiaofeng Li, Juergen Delzer, Richard Voorman, Sonia M. de Morais and Yanbin Lao. Disposition and Drug-Drug Interaction Potential of Veliparib (ABT-888), a Novel and Potent Inhibitor of Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase. DRUG METABOLISM AND DISPOSITION. 2011; 39(7): 1161 – 69.

E. Vilar Sanchez, A. Chow, L. Raskin, M. D. Iniesta, B. Mukherjee and S. B. Gruber. Preclinical testing of the PARP inhibitor ABT-888 in microsatellite instable colorectal cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2009; 27(15S): 11028A.