Abstract B31: Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase 1 as a novel target for alpha-particle therapy in high-risk neuroblastoma
Authors: Makvandi Mehran , Hou Catherine , Xu Kuiying , Anderson Redmond-Craig , Ander-Effron Samuel , Mach Robert H. , Maris John M. , Pryma Daniel A. 
Published: April 2017

Introduction: Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase 1 (PARP-1) is the second most abundant nuclear protein next to histones and offers a unique target for the delivery of alpha emitting radionuclides directly to chromatin maximizing radiobiological effects. Alpha emitting radionuclides decay through the emission of a high linear energy transfer alpha particle that travels only 50-70 µM. This results in dense ionizations over the alpha particle track length, causing high levels of DNA double strand breaks. High-risk neuroblastoma is a deadly pediatric malignancy that overexpresses PARP-1 and approximately 80% of patients succumb to their disease. By utilizing the overexpression of PARP-1 we aim to selectively target high-risk neuroblastomas for the delivery of alpha particles to induce irreparable DNA damage and subsequent cell death.

Methods: Astatine-211 was produced on a JSW BC3015 cyclotron at 28.5 MeV via the Bi-209(α,2n)At-211 nuclear reaction. Astatine-211 was isolated by dry distillation and radiochemically functionalized onto a small molecule PARP inhibitor to afford 211At-MM4. Using a panel of neuroblastoma cell lines, the pharmacology and cytotoxicity of 211At-MM4 was evaluated in vitro. Next, protein analysis was performed by Western to evaluate expression of classical and alternative non-homologous end joining proteins. In addition, PARP-1 expression and DNA damage were assessed in response to therapy. Furthermore, in vivo therapy studies with PET/CT imaging of PARP-1 were performed to assess therapeutic potential and predictive capabilities of companion diagnostics.

Results: IMR-05, SK-N-SH, and NLF were the most sensitive cell lines evaluated and Be-2-c was the most resistant cell line. All cell lines evaluated were high-risk neuroblastomas and baseline Western protein analysis did not reveal specific pathway dependence for classical or alternative non-homologous end joining defined by protein expression. Response to therapy showed significant increases in DNA damage measured by gH2AX. Interestingly PARP-1 expression was upregulated post therapy in the resistant cell line Be-2-c. IMR-05 was the most sensitive cell line in vitro and was translated to in vivo models where therapeutic efficacy was shown. PET/CT imaging of PARP-1 post therapy showed low tumor uptake and was indicative of response.

Conclusion: 211At-MM4 is a small molecule PARP inhibitor functionalized with an alpha emitting radionuclide astatine-211 that can effectively deliver alpha-particles to the nucleus of cancer cells. The neuroblastoma cell lines evaluated showed differential sensitivities and in vitro results translated into in vivo models. Furthermore we have characterized a novel therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma and aim for future clinical translation.

Citation Format: Mehran Makvandi, Catherine Hou, Kuiying Xu, Redmond-Craig Anderson, Samuel Ander-Effron, Robert H. Mach, John M. Maris, Daniel A. Pryma. Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase 1 as a novel target for alpha-particle therapy in high-risk neuroblastoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on DNA Repair: Tumor Development and Therapeutic Response; 2016 Nov 2-5; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2017;15(4_Suppl):Abstract nr B31.