We also demonstrated that the PARP inhibitor AZD2281 induces autophagy in BRCA mutated breast cancer cells as well as breast cancer cells with BRCA1 allelic loss lacking mutation in BRCA1. Our results also indicate importance of selection of patients who would benefit from PARP inhibitor therapy and molecular subclassifications of BRCA-related breast cancers. The gene discussed is BRCA1; the disease is breast carcinoma.