Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers among men worldwide, particularly in the context of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), which poses significant treatment challenges. PARP inhibitors offer a promising therapeutic option for patients with homologous recombination repair (HRR) deficiencies. METHODS: This study systematically analyzed 630 registered clinical trials related to prostate cancer and PARP inhibitors as of April 25, 2025. A total of 109 trials were included, focusing on key information such as year of initiation, trial phase, targeted populations, and study designs. RESULTS: Our findings indicate a significant increase in clinical trials involving PARP inhibitors from 2012 to 2025. Multi-national collaborative studies accounted for 39.4% of the trials, with the United States being the principal contributing country. The majority of trials are concentrated on targeting PARP1 and PARP2 at various phases of development. CONCLUSIONS: PARP inhibitors have demonstrated breakthrough advancements in the treatment of mCRPC; however, challenges such as resistance and the need for personalized therapies persist. Future research should emphasize target identification and the exploration of combination therapy strategies to enhance clinical efficacy.