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Drug repurposing screen targeting PARP identifies cytotoxic activity of efavirenz in high-grade serous ovarian cancer
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  • Bayley Matthews,
  • Michelle Wong-Brown,
  • Dongli Liu,
  • Christine Yee,
  • Kristie-Ann Dickson,
  • Jennifer Schneider,
  • Saiful Islam,
  • Richard Head,
  • Jennifer Martin,
  • Caroline Ford,
  • Deborah Marsh,
  • Nikola Bowden
Bayley Matthews
The University of Newcastle
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Michelle Wong-Brown
The University of Newcastle
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Dongli Liu
UNSW
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Christine Yee
UTS
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Kristie-Ann Dickson
UTS
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Jennifer Schneider
The University of Newcastle
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Saiful Islam
University of South Australia
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Richard Head
University of South Australia
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Jennifer Martin
The University of Newcastle
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Caroline Ford
UNSW
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Deborah Marsh
UTS
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Nikola Bowden
The University of Newcastle

Corresponding Author:nikola.bowden@newcastle.edu.au

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Abstract

Background and Purpose: Drug repurposing has potential to improve the care for treatment resistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). We hypothesised that broadly targeting PARP for drug repurposing would elicit cytotoxic responses in HGSOC through multiple biological processes. Experimental Approach: in-silico ligand-based virtual screening BLAZE was used to identify drugs with potential PARP-binding activity. The list was refined by dosing and known cytotoxicity, lipophilicity, teratogenicity, and side effects. The highest ranked drug, efavirenz, progressed to in vitro testing. Eight HGSOC cell lines were used to determine the IC50 for efavirenz. To determine the cytotoxic effects of efavirenz in a more physiologically relevant model, 3D hydrogel-encapsulated models of HGSOC and patient-derived organoid models of HGSOC were established. Live-cell imaging was employed to quantify apoptosis and cell death. Western blots, cell cycle analysis and PARP activity assays were performed to determine whether PARP1 enzyme expression and activity was inhibited following efavirenz treatment. Key Results: IC50 for efavirenz was 25.02-46.28µM for cells grown in 2D. After 7 days, IC50 doses of efavirenz reduced cell confluency and induced cell death and apoptosis. IC50 values for efavirenz in 3D models were higher ranging from 27.8-55.11µM, and in four HGSOC patient-derived organoids ranged from 14.52-42.27µM. Interestingly, COV362 cells that have a BRCA1 mutation and HRD, displayed the highest IC50 to efavirenz in both 2D and 3D models. The percentage of cells in sub-G1 and G1 phase increased after 35µM and 45µM doses of efavirenz, indicating an increase in stalling in G1. Conclusions and Implications: Efavirenz may be a viable therapeutic option for HGSOC independent of HRD