Abstract 6200: PARP1 hyperactivation by the decoy oligodeoxynucleotide OX425 mediates DNA repair abrogation and unleashes the anti-tumor immune response
Authors: Zakharova Vlada , Galassi Claudia , Doizelet Chloé , Hayes Vincent , Galluzzi Lorenzo , Jdey Wael 
Published: April 2023

Background: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) lead to synthetic lethality when used in cancers with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). However, the development of resistance to PARPis is a recurrent problem thus limits the duration of response and hence the clinical utility of these agents. Here, we describe the antineoplastic and immunomodulatory effects of OX425, a first-in-class oligodeoxynucleotide that operates as a PARP1 decoy, resulting in constitutive PARP1 hyperactivation and consequent exhaustion of the DNA damage response.

Methods: OX425-induced PARP trapping, hyperactivation and cell cytotoxicity were examined in vitro in HRD and homologous recombination proficient (HRP) human cancer cells, as well as in non-transformed cell lines. DNA repair efficacy was monitored by analyzing repair protein recruitment to damage sites. OX425 effects on the innate and adaptive immune responses were assessed by following STING activation and T-cell mediated anti-tumor cytotoxicity. RNAseq analysis in HRP/HRD tumor cells treated with OX425 or PARP inhibitors was employed to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying OX425 effects. The anticancer efficacy of OX425 was assessed in vivo in different HRD and HRP tumor models. OX425-induced PARP activation and tumor infiltration by immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.

Results: At odds with conventional PARP inhibitors, OX425 bound to and hyperactivated PARP1 with high affinity in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in elevated cytotoxicity to multiple cancer cells (breast, ovarian, prostate, colon, hematological, endometrial cancers) irrespective of HR status. Interestingly, long-term treatment with OX425 did not show any mutagenicity compared to PARPi. The activity of OX425 was specific to tumor cells, as no significant effect on cell viability was observed for normal cells, at odds with PARP inhibitors. In line with in vitro results, OX425 mediated considerable anticancer effects in vivo. Moreover, OX425 triggered activation of the STING pathway and CCL5 secretion in the EMT6 mouse mammary carcinoma model. The anticancer effect of OX425 was coupled with tumor-targeting T cell responses. In MPA/DMBA-driven mammary tumors, OX425 mediated considerable anticancer effects in monotherapy and synergistic effects in combination with PD1 inhibition. Moreover, OX425 treatment significantly delayed acquired resistance to olaparib in BRCA1 mutated MDA-MB-436 cell-derived xenografts.

Conclusions: Our results provide preclinical rationale for using OX425 to trigger DNA damage exhaustion and STING activation in cancer cells and initiate inflammatory responses that can be actioned by immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients bearing HRD or HRP tumors

Citation Format: Vlada Zakharova, Claudia Galassi, Chloé Doizelet, Vincent Hayes, Lorenzo Galluzzi, Wael Jdey. PARP1 hyperactivation by the decoy oligodeoxynucleotide OX425 mediates DNA repair abrogation and unleashes the anti-tumor immune response [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 6200.