BKM120 sensitizes BRCA-proficient triple negative breast cancer cells to olaparib through regulating FOXM1 and Exo1 expression

Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 26;11(1):4774. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-82990-y.

Abstract

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors offer a significant clinical benefit for triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) with BRCA1/2 mutation. However, the narrow clinical indication limits the development of PARP inhibitors. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibition sensitizes BRCA-proficient TNBC to PARP inhibition, which broadens the indication of PARP inhibitors. Previously researches have reported that PI3K inhibition induced the defect of homologous recombination (HR) mediated repair by downregulating the expression of BRCA1/2 and Rad51. However, the mechanism for their synergistic effects in the treatment of TNBC is still unclear. Herein, we focused on DNA damage, DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) repair and DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair three aspects to investigate the mechanism of dual PI3K and PARP inhibition in DNA damage response. We found that dual PI3K and PARP inhibition with BKM120 and olaparib significantly reduced the proliferation of BRCA-proficient TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA231-LM2. BKM120 increased cellular ROS to cause DNA oxidative damage. Olaparib resulted in concomitant gain of PARP1, forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) and Exonuclease 1 (Exo1) while inhibited the activity of PARP. BKM120 downregulated the expression of PARP1 and PARP2 to assist olaparib in blocking PARP mediated repair of DNA SSBs. Meanwhile, BKM120 inhibited the expression of BRAC1/2 and Rad51/52 to block HR mediated repair through the PI3K/Akt/NFκB/c-Myc signaling pathway and PI3K/Akt/ FOXM1/Exo1 signaling pathway. BKM120 induced HR deficiency expanded the application of olaparib to HR proficient TNBCs. Our findings proved that PI3K inhibition impaired the repair of both DNA SSBs and DNA DSBs. FOXM1 and Exo1 are novel therapeutic targets that serves important roles in DNA damage response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aminopyridines / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • BRCA1 Protein / genetics
  • BRCA2 Protein / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Repair Enzymes / genetics
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases / genetics
  • Female
  • Forkhead Box Protein M1 / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Morpholines / pharmacology*
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Phthalazines / pharmacology*
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / genetics

Substances

  • Aminopyridines
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • BRCA1 Protein
  • BRCA1 protein, human
  • BRCA2 Protein
  • BRCA2 protein, human
  • FOXM1 protein, human
  • Forkhead Box Protein M1
  • Morpholines
  • NVP-BKM120
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Phthalazines
  • Piperazines
  • EXO1 protein, human
  • Exodeoxyribonucleases
  • DNA Repair Enzymes
  • olaparib