PARP inhibitors and cancer
Posted by cancerfighter on November 4, 2009
The Big Book: Cancer: The Complete Recovery Guide
The Small Book: Cancer Recovery Guide: 15 Alternative and Complementary Strategies for Restoring Health - For more information go to www.fightingcancer.com
“This book tells me everything. Why didn’t my doctor tell me this.”
PARP INHIBITORS
“Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is a key enzyme involved in the repair of single-strand breaks in DNA via the Base Excision Repair pathway. Breakthrough scientists found that cells deficient for either BRCA1 or BRCA2 are particularly sensitive to the inhibition of PARP enzymatic activity; this results in chromosomal instability, cell cycle arrest and subsequent apoptosis.” – http://www.breakthroughresearch.org.uk/clinical_trials_clinical_researchers/clinical_trials/parp_inhibitor_trial/index.html
What that means is PARP is an enzyme that helps cancer cells repair themselves. Anything that inhibits the enzyme will prevent the cell from repairing itself. So, if at the same time you are taking herbs or drugs that attack cancer cells, then simultaneously also taking a PARP inhibitor should improve the effectiveness of the treatment. There are a number of new drug PARP inhibitors coming onto the market and this would be something to discuss with your oncologist.
Herbal PARP inhibitors are Honokiol herb (also a ‘happy pill’ and a possible Viagra substitute) and the Chinese herb Scutellaria barbata
