Tumour cell retention of rucaparib, sustained PARP inhibition and efficacy of weekly as well as daily schedules

The PARP inhibitor rucaparib blocks SARS-CoV-2 virus binding to cells and the immune reaction in models of COVID-19

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To date, there are limited options for severe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. As ADP-ribosylation events are involved in regulating the life cycle of coronaviruses and the inflammatory reactions of the host; we have, here, assessed the repurposing of registered PARP inhibitors for the treatment of COVID-19.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

The effects of PARP inhibitors on virus uptake were assessed in cell-based experiments using multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2. The binding of rucaparib to spike protein was tested by molecular modelling and microcalorimetry. The anti-inflammatory properties of rucaparib were demonstrated in cell-based models upon challenging with recombinant spike protein or SARS-CoV-2 RNA vaccine.

KEY RESULTS

We detected high levels of oxidative stress and strong PARylation in all cell types in the lungs of COVID-19 patients, both of which negatively correlated with lymphocytopaenia. Interestingly, rucaparib, unlike other tested PARP inhibitors, reduced the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate through binding to the conserved 493-498 amino acid region located in the spike-ACE2 interface in the spike protein and prevented viruses from binding to ACE2. In addition, the spike protein and viral RNA-induced overexpression of cytokines was down-regulated by the inhibition of PARP1 by rucaparib at pharmacologically relevant concentrations.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

These results point towards repurposing rucaparib for treating inflammatory responses in COVID-19.

Identification of differential biological activity and synergy between the PARP inhibitor rucaparib and its major metabolite

The (poly)pharmacology of drug metabolites is seldom comprehensively characterized in drug discovery. However, some drug metabolites can reach high plasma concentrations and display in vivo activity. Here, we use computational and experimental methods to comprehensively characterize the kinase polypharmacology of M324, the major metabolite of the PARP1 inhibitor rucaparib. We demonstrate that M324 displays unique PLK2 inhibition at clinical concentrations. This kinase activity could have implications for the efficacy and safety of rucaparib and therefore warrants further clinical investigation. Importantly, we identify synergy between the drug and the metabolite in prostate cancer models and a complete reduction of α-synuclein accumulation in Parkinson's disease models. These activities could be harnessed in the clinic or open new drug discovery opportunities. The study reported here highlights the importance of characterizing the activity of drug metabolites to comprehensively understand drug response in the clinic and exploit our current drug arsenal in precision medicine.

Construction of a Dendritic Nanoassembly-Based Fluorescent Biosensor for Electrostatic Interaction-Independent and Label-Free Measurement of Human Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase 1 in Lung Tissues

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) is responsible for catalyzing the creation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymer and involved in DNA replication and repair. Sensitive measurement of PARP-1 is critical for clinical diagnosis. However, the conventional electrostatic attraction-based PAPR-1 assays usually involve laborious procedures, poor sensitivity, and false positives. Herein, we demonstrate the construction of a dendritic nanoassembly-based fluorescent biosensor for electrostatic interaction-independent and label-free measurement of human PARP-1 in lung tumor tissues. When PARP-1 is present, the specific double-stranded DNA (dsDNA)-activated PARP-1 transfers the ADP-ribosyl group from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)/biotinylated NAD+ to the PARP-1 itself, resulting in the formation of biotinylated dsDNA-PARP-1-PAR polymer bioconjugates that can be captured by magnetic beads. Upon the addition of TdT, APE1, and NH2-modified T-rich probe, the captured dsDNAs with dual 3'-OH termini initiate TdT-activated APE1-mediated hyperbranched amplification to produce abundant dendritic DNA nanoassemblies that can be stained by SYBR Green I to generate a high fluorescence signal. This biosensor is characterized by a template-free, electrostatic interaction-independent, high sensitivity, and label-free assay. It enables rapid (less than 3 h) measurement of PARP-1 with a limit of detection of 4.37 × 10-8 U/μL and accurate measurement of cellular PARP-1 activity with single-cell sensitivity. Moreover, it is capable of screening potential inhibitors and discriminating the PARP-1 level in normal person tissues and lung cancer patient tissues, with great potential in PARP-1-related clinical diagnosis and drug discovery.

Evolution of the Development of PARP Inhibitors

PARP inhibitors first entered the clinic in 2003 in combination with DNA damaging agents in an attempt to overcome treatment resistance to established agents. A brief overview of ADP-ribosylator enzyme biology and the early preclinical development of the class is discussed, illustrating the multiple biological activities of these enzymes and potential wider clinical applicability. The chapter then documents those early years of clinical development and the evolution of the field and eventual registration of PARP inhibitors as active anticancer agents in their own right-in genetically vulnerable tumours.

Differences in Durability of PARP Inhibition by Clinically Approved PARP Inhibitors: Implications for Combinations and Scheduling

Six PARP inhibitors (PARPi) are approved for cancer therapy as monotherapy agents in daily or twice-daily continuous dosing schedules to maintain the necessary continuous suppression of PARP activity. Continuous PARP inhibition is required for single-agent anticancer activity. To investigate if such intense schedules are necessary, we determined the durability of PARP inhibition up to 72 h after a 1 h pulse of 1 µM of five of the approved PARPi, rucaparib, olaparib, niraparib, talazoparib and pamiparib, in IGROV-1 and ES-2 (human ovarian cancer) cells. Rucaparib caused the most persistent inhibition of PARP activity when maintained at ≥75% at 72 h after drug withdrawal in both IGROV-1 and ES-2 cells, but inhibition was more rapidly lost with the other PARPi. PARPi are also under clinical investigation with ATR inhibitors, and thus, we evaluated the implications for scheduling with an ATR inhibitor (VE-821). Rucaparib enhanced VE-821 cytotoxicity in co-exposure, sequential and delayed (24 h drug-free) schedules in IGROV-1 and ES-2 cells. Olaparib and niraparib enhanced VE-821 cytotoxicity only in co-exposed cells and not in sequential exposures. These data have clinical implications for the scheduling of PARPi as a monotherapy and in combination with ATR inhibitors and other cytotoxic drugs.

KP372-1-Induced AKT Hyperactivation Blocks DNA Repair to Synergize With PARP Inhibitor Rucaparib via Inhibiting FOXO3a/GADD45α Pathway

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) have exhibited great promise in the treatment of tumors with homologous recombination (HR) deficiency, however, PARPi resistance, which ultimately recovers DNA repair and cell progress, has become an enormous clinical challenge. Recently, KP372-1 was identified as a novel potential anticancer agent that targeted the redox enzyme, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), to induce extensive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation that amplified DNA damage, leading to cancer cell death. To overcome PARPi resistance and expand its therapeutic utility, we investigated whether a combination therapy of a sublethal dose of KP372-1 with a nontoxic dose of PARPi rucaparib would synergize and enhance lethality in NQO1 over-expressing cancers. We reported that the combination treatment of KP372-1 and rucaparib induced a transient and dramatic AKT hyperactivation that inhibited DNA repair by regulating FOXO3a/GADD45α pathway, which enhanced PARPi lethality and overcame PARPi resistance. We further found that PARP inhibition blocked KP372-1-induced PARP1 hyperactivation to reverse NAD⁺/ATP loss that promoted Ca²⁺-dependent autophagy and apoptosis. Moreover, pretreatment of cells with BAPTA-AM, a cytosolic Ca²⁺ chelator, dramatically rescued KP372-1- or combination treatment-induced lethality and significantly suppressed PAR formation and γH2AX activation. Finally, we demonstrated that this combination therapy enhanced accumulation of both agents in mouse tumor tissues and synergistically suppressed tumor growth in orthotopic pancreatic and non-small-cell lung cancer xenograft models. Together, our study provides novel preclinical evidence for new combination therapy in NQO1⁺ solid tumors that may broaden the clinical utility of PARPi.

Imaging PARP with [18F]rucaparib in pancreatic cancer models

PURPOSE

Rucaparib, an FDA-approved PARP inhibitor, is used as a single agent in maintenance therapy to provide promising treatment efficacy with an acceptable safety profile in various types of BRCA-mutated cancers. However, not all patients receive the same benefit from rucaparib-maintenance therapy. A predictive biomarker to help with patient selection for rucaparib treatment and predict clinical benefit is therefore warranted. With this aim, we developed [18F]rucaparib, an 18F-labelled isotopologue of rucaparib, and employed it as a PARP-targeting agent for cancer imaging with PET. Here, we report the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of [18F]rucaparib in human pancreatic cancer models.

METHOD

We incorporated the positron-emitting 18F isotope into rucaparib, enabling its use as a PET imaging agent. [18F]rucaparib binds to the DNA damage repair enzyme, PARP, allowing direct visualisation and measurement of PARP in cancerous models before and after PARP inhibition or other genotoxic cancer therapies, providing critical information for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Proof-of-concept evaluations were determined in pancreatic cancer models.

RESULTS

Uptake of [18F]rucaparib was found to be mainly dependent on PARP1 expression. Induction of DNA damage increased PARP expression, thereby increasing uptake of [18F]rucaparib. In vivo studies revealed relatively fast blood clearance of [18F]rucaparib in PSN1 tumour-bearing mice, with a tumour uptake of 5.5 ± 0.5%ID/g (1 h after i.v. administration). In vitro and in vivo studies showed significant reduction of [18F]rucaparib uptake by addition of different PARP inhibitors, indicating PARP-selective binding.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, we demonstrate the potential of [18F]rucaparib as a non-invasive PARP-targeting imaging agent for pancreatic cancers.

1,3,4-Oxadiazole Containing Compounds As Therapeutic Targets For Cancer Therapy

BACKGROUND

Cancer is the first or second leading cause of premature death in 134 of 183 countries in the world. 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles are five memebered heterocyclic rings containing two nitrogen (two atoms) and oxygen (one atom). They show better thermal stability, metabolic stability, aqueous solubility and lower lipophilicity than the other isomeric oxadiazoles. They are important class of heterocycles present in many drug structures like Raltegravir, Furamizole Tidazosin, Nesapidil, Setileuton (MK-0633) and Zibotentan. Presence of this nucleus in the therapeutics has made them an indispensable anchor for drug design and development. Several 1,3,4-oxadiazoles are prepared and reported as anticancer agents by numerous scientists worldwide.

OBJECTIVES

The present review discusses the anticancer potentials together with the molecular targets of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles reported since 2010. The structure activity relationship (SAR) and molecular docking simulation on different targets have also been discussed herein. Some of the important cancer targets have also been explored.

METHODS

The most potent 1,3,4-oxadiazoles reported in literature was highlighted in the manuscript. The anticancer activity was reported in terms of growth percent (GP), percent growth inhibition (%GI), GI50, IC50, and LC50 and TGI.

RESULTS

1,3,4-Oxadiazoles are an important heterocyclic scaffolds with broad spectrum biological activities. They may be either mono substituted or disubstituted and act as an indispensable anchor for drug design and discovery due to their thermal stability together with low lipophilicity. They exhibited anticancer potentials and showed the inhibitions of various cancer targets.

CONCLUSION

The discussion outlined herein will proved to be a helpful and vital tool for medicinal chemists investigating and working with 1,3,4-oxadiazoles and anticancer research programs.

PARP inhibitor cyanine dye conjugate with enhanced cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity in patient derived glioblastoma cell lines

We describe the synthesis and in vitro activity of drug-dye conjugate 1, which is a combination of the PARP inhibitor rucaparib and heptamethine cyanine dye IR-786. The drug-dye conjugate 1 was evaluated in three different patient-derived glioblastoma cell lines and showed strong cytotoxic activity with nanomolar potency (EC₅₀: 128 nM), which was a 780 fold improvement over rucaparib itself. We also observe a synergistic effect of 1 with temozolomide (TMZ), the standard drug for treatment for glioblastoma even though these cell lines were resistant to TMZ treatment. We envisage such conjugates to be worth exploring for their utility in the treatment of various brain cancers.

The Development of Rucaparib/Rubraca®: A Story of the Synergy Between Science and Serendipity

The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, Rubraca®, was given its first accelerated approval for BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer by the FDA at the end of 2016, and further approval by the FDA, EMA and NICE followed. Scientists at Newcastle University initiated the early stages, and several collaborations with scientists in academia and the pharmaceutical industry enabled its final development to the approval stage. Although originally considered as a chemo- or radiosensitiser, its current application is as a single agent exploiting tumour-specific defects in DNA repair. As well as involving intellectual and physical effort, there have been a series of fortuitous occurrences and coincidences of timing that ensured its success. This review describes the history of the relationship between science and serendipity that brought us to the current position.

Rucaparib: A Review in Ovarian Cancer

Rucaparib (Rubraca^®) is a small molecule poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor with potent activity against PARP-1, -2 and -3. It is approved in the USA and the EU for the treatment of adult patients with BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer who have been treated with two or more lines of chemotherapy. Rucaparib is also approved in the USA and the EU for use as maintenance therapy in adult patients with recurrent or relapsed ovarian cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Based on an analysis of patients across two phase II clinical trials, rucaparib displayed clinical activity as third- (or later-) line treatment of BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer, with rucaparib-treated patients having a confirmed objective response rate of 54%. Furthermore, as demonstrated in the randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III ARIEL3 trial, rucaparib significantly improved progression-free survival when used as maintenance treatment in patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. Rucaparib had an acceptable tolerability profile in clinical trials in women with ovarian cancer. Common adverse events were generally manageable with dose modification and/or supportive care. Thus, currently available data indicate that rucaparib is a useful addition to the options available to clinicians for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer, in both the treatment and maintenance therapy settings.

Selective DNA-PKcs inhibition extends the therapeutic index of localized radiotherapy and chemotherapy

Potentiating radiotherapy and chemotherapy by inhibiting DNA damage repair is proposed as a therapeutic strategy to improve outcomes for patients with solid tumors. However, this approach risks enhancing normal tissue toxicity as much as tumor toxicity, thereby limiting its translational impact. Using NU5455, a newly identified highly selective oral inhibitor of DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) activity, we found that it was indeed possible to preferentially augment the effect of targeted radiotherapy on human orthotopic lung tumors without influencing acute DNA damage or a late radiation-induced toxicity (fibrosis) to normal mouse lung. Furthermore, while NU5455 administration increased both the efficacy and the toxicity of a parenterally administered topoisomerase inhibitor, it enhanced the activity of doxorubicin released locally in liver tumor xenografts without inducing any adverse effect. This strategy is particularly relevant to hepatocellular cancer, which is treated clinically with localized drug-eluting beads and for which DNA-PKcs activity is reported to confer resistance to treatment. We conclude that transient pharmacological inhibition of DNA-PKcs activity is effective and tolerable when combined with localized DNA-damaging therapies and thus has promising clinical potential.

Brain metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer by BRCA1/2 mutation status

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate clinical outcomes of patients with BRCA-associated ovarian cancer who developed brain metastases (BM).

METHODS

Patients with epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer (EOC) and BM, treated at a single institution from 1/1/2008-7/1/2018, were identified from two institutional databases. Charts and medical records were retrospectively reviewed for clinical characteristics and germline BRCA mutation status. Appropriate statistics were used.

RESULTS

Of 3649 patients with EOC, 91 had BM (2.5%). Germline mutation status was available for 63 (69%) cases; 21 (35%) of these harbored a BRCA1/2 mutation (15 BRCA1, 6 BRCA2). Clinical characteristics were similar between groups. BM were diagnosed at a median of 31 months (95% CI, 22.6-39.4) in BRCA-mutated (mBRCA) and 32 months (95% CI, 23.7-40.3) in wild-type BRCA (wtBRCA) (p = 0.78) patients. Brain metastases were the only evidence of disease at time of BM diagnoses in 48% (n = 10) mBRCA and 19% (n = 8) wtBRCA (p = 0.02) patients. There was no difference in treatment of BM by mutation status (p = 0.84). Survival from time of BM diagnosis was 29 months (95%CI, 15.5-42.5) in mBRCA and 9 months (95% CI, 5.5-12.5) in wtBRCA patients, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.53, p = 0.09; 95% CI, 0.25-1.11. HR was adjusted for presence of systemic disease at time of BM diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

This is the largest study to date comparing outcomes in patients with EOC and BM by mutation status. mBRCA patients were more likely to have isolated BM, which may be a factor in their long survival. This supports the pursuit of aggressive treatment for mBRCA EOC patients with BM. Additional studies examining the correlation of BRCA mutational status with BM are warranted.

PARP Inhibitors as a Therapeutic Agent for Homologous Recombination Deficiency in Breast Cancers

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) play an important role in various cellular processes, such as replication, recombination, chromatin remodeling, and DNA repair. Emphasizing PARP's role in facilitating DNA repair, the PARP pathway has been a target for cancer researchers in developing compounds which selectively target cancer cells and increase sensitivity of cancer cells to other anticancer agents, but which also leave normal cells unaffected. Since certain tumors (BRCA1/2 mutants) have deficient homologous recombination repair pathways, they depend on PARP-mediated base excision repair for survival. Thus, inhibition of PARP is a promising strategy to selectively kill cancer cells by inactivating complementary DNA repair pathways. Although PARP inhibitor therapy has predominantly targeted BRCA-mutated cancers, this review also highlights the growing conversation around PARP inhibitor treatment for non-BRCA-mutant tumors, those which exhibit BRCAness and homologous recombination deficiency. We provide an update on the field's progress by considering PARP inhibitor mechanisms, predictive biomarkers, and clinical trials of PARP inhibitors in development. Bringing light to these findings would provide a basis for expanding the use of PARP inhibitors beyond BRCA-mutant breast tumors.

Exploring the Frequency of Homologous Recombination DNA Repair Dysfunction in Multiple Cancer Types

Dysfunctional homologous recombination DNA repair (HRR), frequently due to BRCA mutations, is a determinant of sensitivity to platinum chemotherapy and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi). In cultures of ovarian cancer cells, we have previously shown that HRR function, based upon RAD51 foci quantification, correlated with growth inhibition ex vivo induced by rucaparib (a PARPi) and 12-month survival following platinum chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of measuring HRR dysfunction (HRD) in other tumours, in order to estimate the frequency and hence wider potential of PARPi. A total of 24 cultures were established from ascites sampled from 27 patients with colorectal, upper gastrointestinal, pancreatic, hepatobiliary, breast, mesothelioma, and non-epithelial ovarian cancers; 8 were HRD. Cell growth following continuous exposure to 10 μM of rucaparib was lower in HRD cultures compared to HRR-competent (HRC) cultures. Overall survival in the 10 patients who received platinum-based therapy was marginally higher in the 3 with HRD ascites (median overall survival of 17 months, range 10 to 90) compared to the 7 patients with HRC ascites (nine months, range 1 to 55). HRR functional assessment in primary cultures, from several tumour types, revealed that a third are HRD, justifying the further exploration of PARPi therapy in a broader range of tumours.

PARP inhibition prevents escape from a telomere-driven crisis and inhibits cell immortalisation

Telomeric crisis is the final replicative barrier to cell immortalisation; it is characterised by genome instability and cell death and is triggered when telomeres become critically short and are subjected to fusion. Pre-cancerous lesions, or early stage cancers, often show signs of a telomere crisis, suggesting that escape from telomere crisis is a prerequisite for disease progression. Telomeric crisis therefore represents an attractive, and as yet unexplored, opportunity for therapeutic intervention. Here, we show that two clinically approved PARP inhibitors, selectively eliminate human cells undergoing a telomere-driven crisis. Clonal populations of a colorectal cancer cell line (HCT116), or the plasma cell leukaemia cell line (JJN-3), expressing a dominant-negative telomerase, entered a telomere-driven crisis at defined population doubling points and telomere lengths. The addition of the PARP inhibitors, olaparib or rucaparib prevented these cells from escaping crisis. PARP inhibition did not alter cellular proliferation prior to crisis, rates of telomere erosion or the telomere length at which crisis was initiated, but affected repair of eroded telomeres, resulting in an increased in intra-chromosomal telomere fusion. This was accompanied by enhanced DNA damage checkpoint activation and elevated levels of apoptosis. We propose that PARP inhibitors impair the repair of dysfunctional telomeres and/or induce replicative stress at telomeres to inhibit escape from a telomere crisis. This is the first demonstration that a drug can selectively kill cells experiencing telomeric crisis. We propose that this type of drug, which we term 'crisolytic', has the potential to eliminate pre-cancerous lesions and tumours exhibiting short dysfunctional telomeres.

Sensitizing Ewing sarcoma to chemo- and radiotherapy by inhibition of the DNA-repair enzymes DNA protein kinase (DNA-PK) and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) 1/2

Background

DNA-PK and PARP inhibitors sensitize cancer cells to chemo- and radiotherapy. ETS transcription factors (EWS-FLI1) have been described as biomarkers for PARP-inhibitor sensitivity. Sensitivity to single agent PARP inhibitors has so far been limited to homologous recombination repair (HRR) deficient tumors, exploiting synthetic lethality.

Results

In clonogenic assays, single agent rucaparib LD₅₀ values for continuously exposed cells were similar to those observed in HRR-defective cells (CAPAN-1 cell line, BRCA2 defective); however, both ES cell lines (TC-71, CADO-ES1) had functional HRR. In vivo rucaparib administration (10 mg/kg daily) showed no responses. In clonogenic assays, rucaparib enhanced temozolomide, camptothecin and radiation cytotoxicity, which was most profound for temozolomide (15–29 fold enhancement). NU7441 increased the cytotoxicity of etoposide, doxorubicin and radiation.

Materials and Methods

We assessed PARP1/2 (rucaparib) and DNA-PK (NU7441) inhibitors in Ewing sarcoma (ES) cell lines by performing growth inhibition and clonogenic assays. HRR was measured by RAD51 focus formation. Single agent rucaparib was assessed in an in vivo orthotopic model.

Conclusions

Single agent rucaparib ES sensitivity in vitro was not replicated in vivo. DNA-PK and PARP inhibitors are good chemo-/radiosensitizers in ES. The future of these inhibitors lies in their combination with chemo-/radiotherapy, which needs to be evaluated in clinical trials.

Heterogeneous drug penetrance of veliparib and carboplatin measured in triple negative breast tumors

BACKGROUND

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi), coupled to a DNA damaging agent is a promising approach to treating triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, not all patients respond; we hypothesize that non-response in some patients may be due to insufficient drug penetration. As a first step to testing this hypothesis, we quantified and visualized veliparib and carboplatin penetration in mouse xenograft TNBCs and patient blood samples.

METHODS

MDA-MB-231, HCC70 or MDA-MB-436 human TNBC cells were implanted in 41 beige SCID mice. Low dose (20 mg/kg) or high dose (60 mg/kg) veliparib was given three times daily for three days, with carboplatin (60 mg/kg) administered twice. In addition, blood samples were analyzed from 19 patients from a phase 1 study of carboplatin + PARPi talazoparib. Veliparib and carboplatin was quantified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Veliparib tissue penetration was visualized using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging (MALDI-MSI) and platinum adducts (covalent nuclear DNA-binding) were quantified using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Pharmacokinetic modeling and Pearson's correlation were used to explore associations between concentrations in plasma, tumor cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

RESULTS

Veliparib penetration in xenograft tumors was highly heterogeneous between and within tumors. Only 35% (CI 95% 26-44%), 74% (40-97%) and 46% (9-37%) of veliparib observed in plasma penetrated into MDA-MB-231, HCC70 and MDA-MB-436 cell-based xenografts, respectively. Within tumors, penetration heterogeneity was larger with the 60 mg/kg compared to the 20 mg/kg dose (RSD 155% versus 255%, P = 0.001). These tumor concentrations were predicted similar to clinical dosing levels, but predicted tumor concentrations were below half maximal concentration values as threshold of response. Xenograft veliparib concentrations correlated positively with platinum adduct formation (R 2 = 0.657), but no PARPi-platinum interaction was observed in patients' PBMCs. Platinum adduct formation was significantly higher in five gBRCA carriers (ratio of platinum in DNA in PBMCs/plasma 0.64% (IQR 0.60-1.16%) compared to nine non-carriers (ratio 0.29% (IQR 0.21-0.66%, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

PARPi/platinum tumor penetration can be measured by MALDI-MSI and ICP-MS in PBMCs and fresh frozen, OCT embedded core needle biopsies. Large variability in platinum adduct formation and spatial heterogeneity in veliparib distribution may lead to insufficient drug exposure in select cell populations.

PARP inhibitor rucaparib induces changes in NAD levels in cells and liver tissues as assessed by MRS

Poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerases (PARPs) are multifunctional proteins which play a role in many cellular processes. Namely, PARP1 and PARP2 have been shown to be involved in DNA repair, and therefore are valid targets in cancer treatment with PARP inhibitors, such as rucaparib, currently in clinical trials. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹ H-MRS) was used to study the impact of rucaparib in vitro and ex vivo in liver tissue from mice, via quantitative analysis of nicotinamide adenosine diphosphate (NAD⁺ ) spectra, to assess the potential of MRS as a biomarker of the PARP inhibitor response. SW620 (colorectal) and A2780 (ovarian) cancer cell lines, and PARP1 wild-type (WT) and PARP1 knock-out (KO) mice, were treated with rucaparib, temozolomide (methylating agent) or a combination of both drugs. ¹ H-MRS spectra were obtained from perchloric acid extracts of tumour cells and mouse liver. Both cell lines showed an increase in NAD⁺ levels following PARP inhibitor treatment in comparison with temozolomide treatment. Liver extracts from PARP1 WT mice showed a significant increase in NAD⁺ levels after rucaparib treatment compared with untreated mouse liver, and a significant decrease in NAD⁺ levels in the temozolomide-treated group. The combination of rucaparib and temozolomide did not prevent the NAD⁺ depletion caused by temozolomide treatment. The ¹ H-MRS results show that NAD⁺ levels can be used as a biomarker of PARP inhibitor and methylating agent treatments, and suggest that in vivo measurement of NAD⁺ would be valuable.

Therapeutic Targeting of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 (PARP1) in Cancer: Current Developments, Therapeutic Strategies, and Future Opportunities

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) plays a central role in numerous cellular processes including DNA repair, replication, and transcription. PARP interacts directly, indirectly or via PARylation with various oncogenic proteins and regulates several transcription factors thereby modulating carcinogenesis. Therapeutic inhibition of PARP is therefore perceived as a promising anticancer strategy and a number of PARP inhibitors (PARPi) are currently under development and clinical evaluation. PARPi inhibit the DNA repair pathway and thus form the concept of synthetic lethality in cancer therapeutics. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown the potential of PARPi as chemopotentiator, radiosensitizer, or as adjuvant therapeutic agents. Recent studies have shown that PARP-1 could be either oncogenic or tumor suppressive in different cancers. PARP inhibitor resistance is also a growing concern in the clinical setting. Recently, changes in the levels of PARP-1 activity or expression in cancer patients have provided the basis for consideration of PARP-1 regulatory proteins as potential biomarkers. This review focuses on the current developments related to the role of PARP in cancer progression, therapeutic strategies targeting PARP-associated oncogenic signaling, and future opportunities in use of PARPi in anticancer therapeutics.

Proteome-wide Profiling of Clinical PARP Inhibitors Reveals Compound-Specific Secondary Targets

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) are a promising class of targeted cancer drugs, but their individual target profiles beyond the PARP family, which could result in differential clinical use or toxicity, are unknown. Using an unbiased, mass spectrometry-based chemical proteomics approach, we generated a comparative proteome-wide target map of the four clinical PARPi, olaparib, veliparib, niraparib, and rucaparib. PARPi as a class displayed high target selectivity. However, in addition to the canonical targets PARP1, PARP2, and several of their binding partners, we also identified hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PD) and deoxycytidine kinase (DCK) as previously unrecognized targets of rucaparib and niraparib, respectively. Subsequent functional validation suggested that inhibition of DCK by niraparib could have detrimental effects when combined with nucleoside analog pro-drugs. H6PD silencing can cause apoptosis and further sensitize cells to PARPi, suggesting that H6PD may be, in addition to its established role in metabolic disorders, a new anticancer target.

Leveraging an NQO1 Bioactivatable Drug for Tumor-Selective Use of Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors

Therapeutic drugs that block DNA repair, including poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, fail due to lack of tumor-selectivity. When PARP inhibitors and β-lapachone are combined, synergistic antitumor activity results from sustained NAD(P)H levels that refuel NQO1-dependent futile redox drug recycling. Significant oxygen-consumption-rate/reactive oxygen species cause dramatic DNA lesion increases that are not repaired due to PARP inhibition. In NQO1⁺ cancers, such as non-small-cell lung, pancreatic, and breast cancers, cell death mechanism switches from PARP1 hyperactivation-mediated programmed necrosis with β-lapachone monotherapy to synergistic tumor-selective, caspase-dependent apoptosis with PARP inhibitors and β-lapachone. Synergistic antitumor efficacy and prolonged survival were noted in human orthotopic pancreatic and non-small-cell lung xenograft models, expanding use and efficacy of PARP inhibitors for human cancer therapy.

PARP inhibitors as antitumor agents: a patent update (2013-2015)

INTRODUCTION

PARP inhibitors have been extensively explored as antitumor agents and have shown potent efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. They can be used in monotherapy under the synthetic lethality concept or in combination with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, inducing a synergistic effect. Areas covered: This review covers relevant efforts in the development of PARP inhibitors with a particular focus on recently patented PARP inhibitors, combination therapy involving PARP inhibitors, tumor responsiveness to PARP inhibitors as detailed in reports made from 2013 - 2015, and PARP drugs in clinical trials and other novel inhibitors that emerged in 2013 - 2015. Expert opinion: Clinical studies and applications of PARP inhibitors as antitumor agents have gained considerable recognition in the last few years. In addition to FDA-approved olaparib, an increasing number of new inhibitors have been designed and synthesized, some of which are under preclinical or clinical evaluation. Novel inhibitors are still required, especially new scaffold compounds or drugs with improved properties, such as higher selectivity, higher potency and lower toxicity. The development of combination therapies involving PARP inhibitors and the exploration of biomarkers to predict outcomes with PARP inhibitors would expand the applications of these inhibitors, allowing more patients to benefit from this promising class of drugs in the future.

Phase 2 multicentre trial investigating intermittent and continuous dosing schedules of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor rucaparib in germline BRCA mutation carriers with advanced ovarian and breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Rucaparib is an orally available potent selective small-molecule inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) 1 and 2. Rucaparib induces synthetic lethality in cancer cells defective in the homologous recombination repair pathway including BRCA-1/2. We investigated the efficacy and safety of single-agent rucaparib in germline (g) BRCA mutation carriers with advanced breast and ovarian cancers.

METHODS

Phase II, open-label, multicentre trial of rucaparib in proven BRCA-1/2 mutation carriers with advanced breast and or ovarian cancer, WHO PS 0-1 and normal organ function. Intravenous (i.v.) and subsequently oral rucaparib were assessed, using a range of dosing schedules, to determine the safety, tolerability, dose-limiting toxic effects and pharmacodynamic (PD) and pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles.

RESULTS

Rucaparib was well tolerated in patients up to doses of 480 mg per day and is a potent inhibitor of PARP, with sustained inhibition ⩾24 h after single doses. The i.v. rucaparib (intermittent dosing schedule) resulted in an objective response rate (ORR) of only 2% but with 41% (18 out of 44) patients achieved stable disease for ⩾12 weeks and 3 patients maintaining disease stabilisation for >52 weeks. The ORR for oral rucaparib (across all six dose levels) was 15%. In the oral cohorts, 81% (22 out of 27) of the patients had ovarian cancer and 12 out of 13, who were dosed continuously, achieved RECIST complete response/partial response (CR/PR) or stable disease (SD) ⩾12 weeks, with a median duration of response of 179 days (range 84-567 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Rucaparib is well tolerated and results in high levels of PARP inhibition in surrogate tissues even at the lowest dose levels. Rucaparib is active in gBRCA-mutant ovarian cancer and this activity correlates with platinum-free interval. The key lessons learned from this study is that continuous rucaparib dosing is required for optimal response, the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) for continuous oral scheduling has not been established and requires further exploration and, thirdly, the use of a PD biomarker to evaluate dose-response has its limitations.

Efficacy of PARP Inhibitor Rucaparib in Orthotopic Glioblastoma Xenografts Is Limited by Ineffective Drug Penetration into the Central Nervous System

PARP inhibition can enhance the efficacy of temozolomide and prolong survival in orthotopic glioblastoma (GBM) xenografts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combination of the PARP inhibitor rucaparib with temozolomide and to correlate pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies with efficacy in patient-derived GBM xenograft models. The combination of rucaparib with temozolomide was highly effective in vitro in short-term explant cultures derived from GBM12, and, similarly, the combination of rucaparib and temozolomide (dosed for 5 days every 28 days for 3 cycles) significantly prolonged the time to tumor regrowth by 40% in heterotopic xenografts. In contrast, the addition of rucaparib had no impact on the efficacy of temozolomide in GBM12 or GBM39 orthotopic models. Using Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) II cells stably expressing murine BCRP1 or human MDR1, cell accumulation studies demonstrated that rucaparib is transported by both transporters. Consistent with the influence of these efflux pumps on central nervous system drug distribution, Mdr1a/b(-/-)Bcrp1(-/-) knockout mice had a significantly higher brain to plasma ratio for rucaparib (1.61 ± 0.25) than wild-type mice (0.11 ± 0.08). A pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation after a single dose confirmed limited accumulation of rucaparib in the brain is associated with substantial residual PARP enzymatic activity. Similarly, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging demonstrated significantly enhanced accumulation of drug in flank tumor compared with normal brain or orthotopic tumors. Collectively, these results suggest that limited drug delivery into brain tumors may significantly limit the efficacy of rucaparib combined with temozolomide in GBM.

Extent of radiosensitization by the PARP inhibitor olaparib depends on its dose, the radiation dose and the integrity of the homologous recombination pathway of tumor cells

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The PARP inhibitor olaparib is currently tested in clinical phase 1 trials to define safe dose levels in combination with RT. However, certain clinically relevant insights are still lacking. Here we test, while comparing to single agent activity, the olaparib dose and genetic background dependence of olaparib-mediated radiosensitization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Long-term growth inhibition and clonogenic assays were used to assess radiosensitization in BRCA2-deficient and BRCA2-complemented cells and in a panel of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

RESULTS

The extent of radiosensitization greatly depended on the olaparib dose, the radiation dose and the homologous recombination status of cells. Olaparib concentrations that resulted in radiosensitization prevented PAR induction by irradiation. Seven hours olaparib exposures were sufficient for radiosensitization. Importantly, the radiosensitizing effects can be observed at much lower olaparib doses than the single agent effects.

CONCLUSION

Extrapolation of these data to the clinic suggests that low olaparib doses are sufficient to cause radiosensitization, underlining the potential of the treatment. Here we show that drug doses achieving radiosensitization can greatly differ from those achieving single agent activities, an important consideration when developing combined radiotherapy strategies with novel targeted agents.

Proteome-wide analysis of mutant p53 targets in breast cancer identifies new levels of gain-of-function that influence PARP, PCNA, and MCM4

The gain-of-function mutant p53 (mtp53) transcriptome has been studied, but, to date, no detailed analysis of the mtp53-associated proteome has been described. We coupled cell fractionation with stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and inducible knockdown of endogenous mtp53 to determine the mtp53-driven proteome. Our fractionation data highlight the underappreciated biology that missense mtp53 proteins R273H, R280K, and L194F are tightly associated with chromatin. Using SILAC coupled to tandem MS, we identified that R273H mtp53 expression in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells up- and down-regulated multiple proteins and metabolic pathways. Here we provide the data set obtained from sequencing 73,154 peptide pairs that then corresponded to 3,010 proteins detected under reciprocal labeling conditions. Importantly, the high impact regulated targets included the previously identified transcriptionally regulated mevalonate pathway proteins but also identified two new levels of mtp53 protein regulation for nontranscriptional targets. Interestingly, mtp53 depletion profoundly influenced poly(ADP ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) localization, with increased cytoplasmic and decreased chromatin-associated protein. An enzymatic PARP shift occurred with high mtp53 expression, resulting in increased poly-ADP-ribosylated proteins in the nucleus. Mtp53 increased the level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and minichromosome maintenance 4 (MCM4) proteins without changing the amount of pcna and mcm4 transcripts. Pathway enrichment analysis ranked the DNA replication pathway above the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway as a R273H mtp53 activated proteomic target. Knowledge of the proteome diversity driven by mtp53 suggests that DNA replication and repair pathways are major targets of mtp53 and highlights consideration of combination chemotherapeutic strategies targeting cholesterol biosynthesis and PARP inhibition.

Vasoactivity of rucaparib, a PARP-1 inhibitor, is a complex process that involves myosin light chain kinase, P2 receptors, and PARP itself

Therapeutic inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), as monotherapy or to supplement the potencies of other agents, is a promising strategy in cancer treatment. We previously reported that the first PARP inhibitor to enter clinical trial, rucaparib (AG014699), induced vasodilation in vivo in xenografts, potentiating response to temozolomide. We now report that rucaparib inhibits the activity of the muscle contraction mediator myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) 10-fold more potently than its commercially available inhibitor ML-9. Moreover, rucaparib produces additive relaxation above the maximal degree achievable with ML-9, suggesting that MLCK inhibition is not solely responsible for dilation. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis using L-NMMA also failed to impact rucaparib’s activity. Rucaparib contains the nicotinamide pharmacophore, suggesting it may inhibit other NAD+-dependent processes. NAD⁺ exerts P2 purinergic receptor-dependent inhibition of smooth muscle contraction. Indiscriminate blockade of the P2 purinergic receptors with suramin abrogated rucaparib-induced vasodilation in rat arterial tissue without affecting ML-9-evoked dilation, although the specific receptor subtypes responsible have not been unequivocally identified. Furthermore, dorsal window chamber and real time tumor vessel perfusion analyses in PARP-1^-/- mice indicate a potential role for PARP in dilation of tumor-recruited vessels. Finally, rucaparib provoked relaxation in 70% of patient-derived tumor-associated vessels. These data provide tantalising evidence of the complexity of the mechanism underlying rucaparib-mediated vasodilation.

Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) and P-glycoprotein (P-GP/ABCB1) restrict oral availability and brain accumulation of the PARP inhibitor rucaparib (AG-014699)

BACKGROUND

Rucaparib is a potent, orally available, small-molecule inhibitor of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) 1 and 2. Ongoing clinical trials are assessing the efficacy of rucaparib alone or in combination with other cytotoxic drugs, mainly in breast and ovarian cancer patients with mutations in the breast cancer associated (BRCA) genes.

PURPOSE

We aimed to establish whether the multidrug efflux transporters ABCG2 (BCRP) and ABCB1 (P-gp, MDR1) affect the oral availability and brain penetration of rucaparib in mice.

RESULTS

In vitro, rucaparib was efficiently transported by both human ABCB1 and ABCG2, and very efficiently by mouse Abcg2. Transport could be inhibited by the small-molecule ABCB1 and ABCG2 inhibitors zosuquidar and Ko143, respectively. In vivo, oral availability (plasma AUC0-1 and AUC0-24) and brain levels of rucaparib at 1 and 24 h were increased by the absence of both Abcg2 and Abcb1a/1b after oral administration of rucaparib at 10 mg/kg.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show to our knowledge for the first time that oral availability and brain accumulation of a PARP inhibitor are markedly and additively restricted by Abcg2 and Abcb1a/1b. This may have clinical relevance for improvement of rucaparib therapy in PARP inhibitor-resistant tumors with ABCB1 and/or ABCG2 expression and in patients with brain (micro)metastases positioned behind a functional blood-brain barrier.