DNA Repair Pathway

The DNA repair pathway encompasses a collection of cellular processes that detect and correct damage to the DNA molecules within a cell’s genome. These pathways are essential for maintaining genetic stability and integrity, especially in response to endogenous or exogenous sources of DNA damage. Defects in these pathways can lead to increased mutation rates and predispose individuals to cancer and other diseases. Key pathways include direct reversal, base excision repair (BER), nucleotide excision repair (NER), mismatch repair (MMR), homologous recombination repair (HRR), and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ).

Other names

DNA repair mechanismsGenome maintenance pathways

Various, depending on the specific drug and pathway. Examples include inhibiting PARP to prevent single-strand break repair, or inducing DNA damage that overwhelms repair capacity.