Olaparib (AZD2281) is a potent oral PARP inhibitor that has exhibited monotherapy activity in tumour cells with defective components of homologous recombination, including cells with the BRCA1−/− and BRCA2−/− genotype (Menear et al, 2008; Rottenberg et al, 2008). The gene discussed is BRCA1; the disease is neoplasm.