Co-targeting of the PI3K pathway improves the response of BRCA1 deficient breast cancer cells to PARP1 inhibition
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ABSTRACT: Although pre-clinical and clinical studies on PARP1 inhibitors, alone and in combination with DNA-damaging agents, show promising results, further ways to improve and broaden the scope of application of this therapeutic approach are warranted. To this end, we have investigated the possibility of improving the response of BRCA1 mutant breast cancer cells to PARP1 inhibition by co-targeting the PI3K pathway. The human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-436, which lacks the expression of both BRCA1 and PTEN, was treated with the PARP1 inhibitor AG014699 as a single agent or in combination with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 for 7 days. The human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-436 was treated with the PARP1 inhibitor AG014699 as a single agent or in combination with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 for 7 days. All treatments were performed in triplicates. Total RNA was extracted hybridized onto the Illumina HumanHT-12 v4.0 microarray platform.
Project description:Although pre-clinical and clinical studies on PARP1 inhibitors, alone and in combination with DNA-damaging agents, show promising results, further ways to improve and broaden the scope of application of this therapeutic approach are warranted. To this end, we have investigated the possibility of improving the response of BRCA1 mutant breast cancer cells to PARP1 inhibition by co-targeting the PI3K pathway. The human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-436, which lacks the expression of both BRCA1 and PTEN, was treated with the PARP1 inhibitor AG014699 as a single agent or in combination with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 for 7 days. The human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-436 was treated with the PARP1 inhibitor AG014699 as a single agent or in combination with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 for 7 days. All treatments were performed in triplicates. Total RNA was extracted hybridized onto the Illumina HumanHT-12 v4.0 microarray platform.
Project description:Although pre-clinical and clinical studies on PARP1 inhibitors, alone and in combination with DNA-damaging agents, show promising results, further ways to improve and broaden the scope of application of this therapeutic approach are warranted. To this end, we have investigated the possibility of improving the response of BRCA1 mutant breast cancer cells to PARP1 inhibition by co-targeting the PI3K pathway. The human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-436, which lacks the expression of both BRCA1 and PTEN, was treated with the PARP1 inhibitor AG014699 as a single agent or in combination with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 for 7 days.
Project description:The breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (Brca1) has a key role in both hereditary and sporadic mammary tumorigenesis. However, the reasons why Brca1-deficiency leads to the development of cancer are not clearly understood. Activation of Akt kinase is one of the most common molecular alterations associated with human malignancy. Increased Akt kinase activity has been reported in most breast cancers. We previously found that downregulation of Brca1 expression or mutations of the Brca1 gene activate the Akt oncogenic pathway. To further investigate the role of Brca1/Akt in tumorigenesis, we analyzed Brca1/Akt expression in human breast cancer samples and found that reduced expression of Brca1 was highly correlated with increased phosphorylation of Akt. Consistent with the clinical data, knockdown of Akt1 by short-hairpin RNA inhibited cellular proliferation of Brca1 mutant cells. Importantly, depletion of Akt1 significantly reduced tumor formation induced by Brca1-deficiency in mice. The third generation inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Palomid 529, significantly suppressed Brca1-deficient tumor growth in mice through inhibition of both Akt and mTOR signaling. Our results indicate that activation of Akt is involved in Brca1-deficiency mediated tumorigenesis and that the mTOR pathway can be used as a novel target for treatment of Brca1-deficient cancers.
Project description:Mutations in the tumor suppressor BRCA1 predispose women to breast and ovarian cancers. The mechanism underlying the tissue-specific nature of BRCA1's tumor suppression is obscure. We previously showed that the antioxidant pathway regulated by the transcription factor NRF2 is defective in BRCA1-deficient cells. Reactivation of NRF2 through silencing of its negative regulator KEAP1 permitted the survival of BRCA1-null cells. Here we show that estrogen (E2) increases the expression of NRF2-dependent antioxidant genes in various E2-responsive cell types. Like NRF2 accumulation triggered by oxidative stress, E2-induced NRF2 accumulation depends on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKT activation. Pretreatment of mammary epithelial cells (MECs) with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor BKM120 abolishes the capacity of E2 to increase NRF2 protein and transcriptional activity. In vivo the survival defect of BRCA1-deficient MECs is rescued by the rise in E2 levels associated with pregnancy. Furthermore, exogenous E2 administration stimulates the growth of BRCA1-deficient mammary tumors in the fat pads of male mice. Our work elucidates the basis of the tissue specificity of BRCA1-related tumor predisposition, and explains why oophorectomy significantly reduces breast cancer risk and recurrence in women carrying BRCA1 mutations.
Project description:Inhibition of the DNA repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) with small molecules has been shown to be an effective treatment for ovarian cancer with BRCA mutations. Here, we report the in vivo administration of siRNA to Parp1 in mouse models of ovarian cancer. A unique member of the lipid-like materials known as lipidoids is shown to deliver siRNA to disseminated murine ovarian carcinoma allograft tumors following intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. siParp1 inhibits cell growth, primarily by induction of apoptosis, in Brca1-deficient cells both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, the treatment extends the survival of mice bearing tumors derived from Brca1-deficient ovarian cancer cells but not from Brca1 wild-type cells, confirming the proposed mechanism of synthetic lethality. Because there are 17 members of the Parp family, the inherent complementarity of RNA affords a high level of specificity for therapeutically addressing Parp1 in the context of impaired homologous recombination.
Project description:Protein kinase CK2 alpha (CK2α) is involved in the development of multiple malignancies. Overexpression of Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) is related to tumor proliferation, drug resistance, and poor prognosis. Studies have demonstrated that both CK2 and YBX1 could regulate the PI3K/AKT pathway. In addition, we predicted that CK2 might be the upstream kinase of YBX1 through the Human Protein Reference Database (HPRD). Herein, we hypothesize that CK2 may interact with YBX1 and they regulate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway together. Expressions of CK2α and YBX1 in cancer cell lines were evaluated by immunoblotting. The results showed that CK2α could regulate the expression of YBX1 at the transcriptional level, which is dependent on its enzymatic activity. Synergistic effects of PI3K/AKT pathway inactivation could be observed through combined inhibition of CK2α and YBX1, and YBX1 was required for CK2α-induced PI3K/AKT pathway activation. Further results demonstrated that CK2α could interact with YBX1 and PI3K/AKT antagonist decreased cell resistance to doxorubicin induced by co-activation of CK2α and YBX1. These results indicated that combined inhibition of CK2α and YBX1 showed synergistic effects in inactivating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and may be one of the mechanisms involved in tumor growth and migration.
Project description:Resistance to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) limits the therapeutic efficacy of PARP inhibition in treating breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1)-deficient cancers. Here we reveal that BRCA1 has a dual role in regulating ferroptosis. BRCA1 promotes the transcription of voltage-dependent anion channel 3 (VDAC3) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4); consequently, BRCA1 deficiency promotes cellular resistance to erastin-induced ferroptosis but sensitizes cancer cells to ferroptosis induced by GPX4 inhibitors (GPX4i). In addition, nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4)-mediated ferritinophagy and defective GPX4 induction unleash potent ferroptosis in BRCA1-deficient cancer cells upon PARPi and GPX4i co-treatment. Finally, we show that xenograft tumors derived from patients with BRCA1-mutant breast cancer with PARPi resistance exhibit decreased GPX4 expression and high sensitivity to PARP and GPX4 co-inhibition. Our results show that BRCA1 deficiency induces a ferroptosis vulnerability to PARP and GPX4 co-inhibition and inform a therapeutic strategy for overcoming PARPi resistance in BRCA1-deficient cancers. Significance: BRCA1 deficiency promotes resistance to erastin-induced ferroptosis via blocking VDAC3 yet renders cancer cells vulnerable to GPX4i-induced ferroptosis via inhibiting GPX4. NCOA4 induction and defective GPX4 further synergizes GPX4i with PARPi to induce ferroptosis in BRCA1-deficient cancers and targeting GPX4 mitigates PARPi resistance in those cancers. See related commentary by Alborzinia and Friedmann Angeli, p. 1372.
Project description:The effectiveness of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) in creating single-stranded DNA gaps and inducing sensitivity requires the FANCJ DNA helicase. Yet, how FANCJ relates to PARP1 inhibition or trapping, which contribute to PARPi toxicity, remains unclear. Here, we find PARPi effectiveness hinges on S-phase PARP1 activity, which is reduced in FANCJ deficient cells as G-quadruplexes sequester PARP1 and MSH2. Additionally, loss of the FANCJ-MLH1 interaction diminishes PARP1 activity; however, depleting MSH2 reinstates PARPi sensitivity and gaps. Indicating sequestered and trapped PARP1 are distinct, FANCJ loss increases PARPi resistance in cells susceptible to PARP1 trapping. However, with BRCA1 deficiency, the loss of FANCJ mirrors PARP1 loss or inhibition, with the detrimental commonality being loss of S-phase PARP1 activity. These insights underline the crucial role of PARP1 activity during DNA replication in BRCA1 deficient cells and emphasize the importance of understanding drug mechanisms for enhancing therapeutic response.
Project description:There is a need to develop new, more efficient therapies for head and neck cancer (HNSCC) patients. It is currently unclear whether defects in DNA repair genes play a role in HNSCCs' resistance to therapy. PARP1 inhibitors (PARPi) were found to be "synthetic lethal" in cancers deficient in BRCA1/2 with impaired homologous recombination. Since tumors rarely have these particular mutations, there is considerable interest in finding alternative determinants of PARPi sensitivity. Effectiveness of combined irradiation and PARPi olaparib was evaluated in ten HNSCC cell lines, subdivided into HR-proficient and HR-deficient cell lines using a GFP-based reporter assay. Both groups were equally sensitive to PARPi alone. Combined treatment revealed stronger synergistic interactions in the HR-deficient group. Because HR is mainly active in S-Phase, replication processes were analyzed. A stronger impact of treatment on replication processes (p = 0.04) and an increased number of radial chromosomes (p = 0.003) were observed in the HR-deficient group. We could show that radiosensitization by inhibition of PARP1 strongly correlates with HR competence in a replication-dependent manner. Our observations indicate that PARP1 inhibitors are promising candidates for enhancing the therapeutic ratio achieved by radiotherapy via disabling DNA replication processes in HR-deficient HNSCCs.
Project description:Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation refers to the covalent attachment of ADP-ribose to protein, generating branched, long chains of ADP-ribose moieties, known as poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR). Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) is the main polymerase and acceptor of PAR in response to DNA damage. Excessive intracellular PAR accumulation due to PARP1 activation leads cell death in a pathway known as parthanatos. PAR degradation is mainly controlled by poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) and ADP-ribose-acceptor hydrolase 3 (ARH3). Our previous results demonstrated that ARH3 confers protection against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) exposure, by lowering cytosolic and nuclear PAR levels and preventing apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) nuclear translocation. We identified a family with an ARH3 gene mutation that resulted in a truncated, inactive protein. The 8-year-old proband exhibited a progressive neurodegeneration phenotype. In addition, parthanatos was observed in neurons of the patient's deceased sibling, and an older sibling exhibited a mild behavioral phenotype. Consistent with the previous findings, the patient's fibroblasts and ARH3-deficient mice were more sensitive, respectively, to H2O2 stress and cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced PAR accumulation and cell death. Further, PARP1 inhibition alleviated cell death and injury resulting from oxidative stress and ischemia/reperfusion. PARP1 inhibitors may attenuate the progression of neurodegeneration in affected patients with ARH3 deficiency.