GPX4 Inhibition Enhances the Antitumor Effect of PARP Inhibitor on Homologous Recombination Proficient Ovarian Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are now widely used in BRCA1/2 mutation or homologous recombination (HR) deficiency ovarian cancer but have limited efficacy in HR-proficient patients. GPX4 is a key regulator of ferroptosis and has been proven to be associated with multiple drug sensitivities. As a molecule that regulates the sensitivity of multiple drugs, the relationship between GPX4 and the efficacy of PARPi in HR-proficient ovarian cancer has not been elucidated. METHODS: In this study, siRNA transfection was used to regulate the expression of GPX4. The effect of GPX4 inhibition on HR-proficient ovarian cancer was determined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence and comet assay were used to reflect DNA damage. ROS production was measured using DCFH-DA and flow cytometry. The combination index of PARP inhibitors and RSL3 was calculated using CompuSyn software based on ChouTalalay methodology. RESULTS: GPX4 inhibition confers HR-proficient ovarian cancer cells sensitive to PARPi due to ROS generation and oxidative stress caused DNA double-strand breakage. The combination of olaparib and niraparib with GPX4 inhibitor RSL3 also showed a synergistic effect. CONCLUSION: Combining GPX4 inhibition with PARP inhibitors resulted in a notable increase in DNA damage, ultimately causing the death of cancer cells with proficient HR pathways. Our findings may provide new therapeutic options for HR-proficient patients to benefit from PARP inhibitors and improve outcomes.