Integrating Epigenetic Modulation into DNA Damage Repair

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Screening for hereditary DNA repair mutations in cancer has accelerated as Homologous Recombination Repair (HRR) deficient tumors respond well to DNA damaging agents and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi). The most common HRD mutations include BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, and CHEK2. Such mutations convey a 40-80% lifetime breast cancer risk across all racial and ethnic backgrounds, and pose elevated risks for ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer. While less toxic, responses to PARP inhibitors are still often short, despite a high initial response rate. Efficacy of PARP inhibitors in ATM and CHEK2 is mechanistically expected, but not yet established. Overlapping toxicities have significantly challenged the ability to combine PARPi with chemotherapy, and immunotherapy combinations remain of limited benefit in most breast cancer subtypes. In a quest to enhance PARPi efficacy, we studied strategies to increase DNA trapping and inhibition of DNA repair. DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) directly modulate the DNA repair pathway and work in complex with PARP to repair single strand DNA breaks. As such, we hypothesize that DNMT inhibition would significantly improve the therapeutic benefit of PARP inhibition in HRD cancer. We found enhanced PARP trapping and promising synergistic efficacy with very low doses of the DNMT inhibitor, decitabine, and PARPi in preliminary in vitro and in vivo studies which was significantly enhanced in genetically engineered HRR mutated cancer cell lines and PDX models. Responsiveness to the combination varied by tumor (sub) tissue context and select HRD gene mutation. Preliminary data form our work has led to the approval of a dose finding phase I trial sponsored by the Alliance Network (A092003). In this application, we will explore biomarkers and mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to combination PARP and DNMT treatment to provide deeper mechanistic insights and guide patient selection in the provisionally-approved large randomized ComboMatch trial (EAY191 A4) in three aims. Aim 1: Determine the mechanism of synergy and comparative effects of combined PARP and DNMT inhibition in isogenic cell lines bearing targeted mutation of 4 different HRR pathway genes, in vitro, in xenografts, and in comparison to established PDX with similar HRR mutations but different genetic backgrounds. Aim 2: Use pre- and posttreatment tumor biopsy and serial blood samples from patients in the Phase I Alliance Network (A092003) trial to generate a detailed understanding of patient’s HRR mutation, accompanying genomic landscape, and functional status of the HRR pathway. Establish Patient Derived Xenografts (PDX) from biopsy specimens for work in Aim 3 regarding resistance mechanisms. Assess circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for predictive biomarkers of therapeutic response. Aim 3: Translating from the clinic back to the bench, test the veracity of the therapeutic responses in PDX and organoid models compared to the source patient responses, identify PARPi+DNMTi therapeutic resistance mechanisms, test sensitivity to potential followup therapeutics.