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Editorial
. 2021 Mar;124(5):857-859.
doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-01202-y. Epub 2020 Dec 16.

The role of Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) as a predictive biomarker for targeting the DNA damage response

Niamh Coleman  1   2   3 , Bingnan Zhang  2   3 , Lauren A Byers  2   3   4 , Timothy A Yap  5   6   7   8   9   10
Affiliations
Editorial

The role of Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) as a predictive biomarker for targeting the DNA damage response

Niamh Coleman et al. Br J Cancer. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

The therapeutic landscape of drugs targeting the DNA damage response (DDR) is rapidly expanding; however, an urgent unmet need remains for validated predictive biomarkers of response. SLFN11 has emerged as a promising predictor of sensitivity to DNA-damaging chemotherapies, and recently, been associated with sensitivity to PARP inhibition. We discuss its use as a predictive biomarker of response for targeting the DDR.

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Conflict of interest statement

N.C. and B.Z. declare no competing interests. L.A.B. has received research funding from AstraZeneca, GenMab, Sierra Oncology and ToleroPharmaceuticals, and has served as an advisor/consultant for AstraZeneca, GenMab, Sierra Oncology, PharmaMar, AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Alethia, Merck, Pfizer and Jazz Pharmaceuticals. T.A.Y. has received research support to the institution from Artios, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Clovis, Constellation, Cyteir, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Forbius, F-Star, GlaxoSmithKline, Genentech, ImmuneSensor, Ipsen, Jounce, Karyopharm, Kyowa, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Ribon Therapeutics, Regeneron, Repare, Sanofi, Scholar Rock, Seattle Genetics, Tesaro and Vertex Pharmaceuticalsre, and has served as a consultant for Almac, Aduro, AstraZeneca, Atrin, Axiom, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Calithera, Clovis, Cybrexa, EMD Serono, F-Star, Guidepoint, Ignyta, I-Mab, Jansen, Merck, Pfizer, Repare, Roche, Rubius, Schrodinger, Seattle Genetics, Varian and Zai Labs.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Summary of the resensitisation strategy of Winkler and co-workers.
In SLFN11-low cancers, DDA combinations with DDR inhibitors, such as ATR, WEE1 or CHK1 inhibitors, could reverse resistance to broad DDA by targeting the replication stress response, inducing further DNA damage and ultimately leading to cell death.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment on

References

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