title: Targeted radiosensitization of ETS fusion-positive prostate cancer through PARP1 inhibition.
abstract: ETS gene fusions, which result in overexpression of an ETS transcription factor, are considered driving mutations in approximately half of all prostate cancers. Dysregulation of ETS transcription factors is also known to exist in Ewing's sarcoma, breast cancer, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We previously discovered that ERG, the predominant ETS family member in prostate cancer, interacts with the DNA damage response protein poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) in human prostate cancer specimens. Therefore, we hypothesized that the ERG-PARP1 interaction may confer radiation resistance by increasing DNA repair efficiency and that this radio-resistance could be reversed through PARP1 inhibition. Using lentiviral approaches, we established isogenic models of ERG overexpression in PC3 and DU145 prostate cancer cell lines. In both cell lines, ERG overexpression increased clonogenic survival following radiation by 1.25 (±0.07) fold (mean ± SEM) and also resulted in increased PARP1 activity. PARP1 inhibition with olaparib preferentially radiosensitized ERG-positive cells by a factor of 1.52 (±0.03) relative to ERG-negative cells (P < .05). Neutral and alkaline COMET assays and immunofluorescence microscopy assessing γ-H2AX foci showed increased short- and long-term efficiencies of DNA repair, respectively, following radiation that was preferentially reversed by PARP1 inhibition. These findings were verified in an in vivo xenograft model. Our findings demonstrate that ERG overexpression confers radiation resistance through increased efficiency of DNA repair following radiation that can be reversed through inhibition of PARP1. These results motivate the use of PARP1 inhibitors as radiosensitizers in patients with localized ETS fusion-positive cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Sumin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: J Chad
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabolch
authors.forename: Will
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Corey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Speers
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilder-Romans
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: Theodore S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Arul M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chinnaiyan
authors.forename: Felix Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D004260:DNA Repair; D050939:Gene Fusion; D064593:Heterografts; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D010793:Phthalazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000071137:Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG
chemical_list: C072312:ERG protein, human; D010793:Phthalazines; D010879:Piperazines; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG; C499320:PARP1 protein, human; D000071137:Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; C531550:olaparib