Drug repurposing screen targeting PARP identifies cytotoxic activity of
efavirenz in high-grade serous ovarian cancer
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