ATM and ATR have exciting potential as therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer. In this interview Melinda L. Telli, MD, from Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, discusses the role of ATM and ATR in the DNA damage response and regulating cell cycle checkpoints, as well as their druggability. This interview was recorded at the 2017 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) conference held in Madrid, Spain.