Synthetic Lethality Triggered by Combining Olaparib with BRCA2-Rad51 Disruptors

ACS Chem Biol. 2017 Oct 20;12(10):2491-2497. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.7b00707. Epub 2017 Sep 1.

Abstract

In BRCA2-defective cells, poly(adenosine diphosphate [ADP]-ribose) polymerase inhibitors can trigger synthetic lethality, as two independent DNA-repairing mechanisms are simultaneously impaired. Here, we have pharmacologically induced synthetic lethality, which was triggered by combining two different small organic molecules. When administered with a BRCA2-Rad51 disruptor in nonmutant cells, Olaparib showed anticancer activity comparable to that shown when administered alone in BRCA2-defective cells. This strategy could represent an innovative approach to anticancer drug discovery and could be extended to other synthetic lethality pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • BRCA2 Protein / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • BRCA2 Protein / genetics
  • BRCA2 Protein / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Repair
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Silencing
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutation
  • Phthalazines / chemistry
  • Phthalazines / pharmacology*
  • Piperazines / chemistry
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Rad51 Recombinase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Rad51 Recombinase / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • BRCA2 Protein
  • BRCA2 protein, human
  • Phthalazines
  • Piperazines
  • RAD51 protein, human
  • Rad51 Recombinase
  • olaparib