Independently from their role in canonical homologous recombination, BRCA1 and BRCA2 are required for the protection of newly replicated DNA from promiscuous nuclease activities, a function with important implications for both cancer biology and therapy (Schlacher et al, 2011; Ray Chaudhuri et al, 2016; Quinet et al, 2017). This evidence concerns the gene BRCA1 and cancer.