Chemotherapy: PARP inhibitors and BRCA: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pharmacology · Chemotherapy: PARP inhibitors and BRCA

Sample item

A woman with high-grade serous ovarian cancer and a germline BRCA1 mutation has responded to platinum chemotherapy. Which maintenance drug exploits the defect in homologous recombination repair?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Olaparib

Olaparib inhibits poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, which repairs single-strand DNA breaks. In cells that already lack BRCA-dependent homologous repair, unrepaired breaks turn into lethal double-strand breaks, an example of synthetic lethality.

Option by option

  • A. Trastuzumab

    Trastuzumab targets HER2 and is not a maintenance agent for BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer.

  • B. Olaparib (correct)

    Correct. PARP inhibition is synthetically lethal in BRCA-deficient cells.

  • C. Tamoxifen

    Tamoxifen blocks oestrogen receptors in breast cancer and does not exploit BRCA loss.

  • D. Gefitinib

    Gefitinib inhibits EGFR tyrosine kinase in lung cancer.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Pharmacology questions

Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is B, Olaparib. Olaparib inhibits poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, which repairs single-strand DNA breaks.

Why is "Trastuzumab" not the answer?

Trastuzumab targets HER2 and is not a maintenance agent for BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer.

Why is "Tamoxifen" not the answer?

Tamoxifen blocks oestrogen receptors in breast cancer and does not exploit BRCA loss.

Why is "Gefitinib" not the answer?

Gefitinib inhibits EGFR tyrosine kinase in lung cancer.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chemotherapy: PARP inhibitors and BRCA in Pharmacology. In cells that already lack BRCA-dependent homologous repair, unrepaired breaks turn into lethal double-strand breaks, an example of synthetic lethality.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Chemotherapy: PARP inhibitors and BRCA?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.