5hmC enhances PARP trapping and restores PARP inhibitor sensitivity in chemoresistant BRCA1/2-deficient cells

Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the leading cause of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA1/2-mutant cells are defective in repairing damaged DNA by homologous recombination and are characterized by hypersensitivity to PARP inhibitors. PARP inhibitors can trap PARP proteins on the chromatin, a mechanism that can contribute to the death of BRCA1/2-deficient cells. The FDA has approved multiple PARP inhibitors for the treatment of metastatic breast and ovarian cancers, yet in spite of the success of PARP inhibitors in treating BRCA1/2-mutant cancers, drug resistance is a major challenge. Here, we report that 5hmC enhances PARP1 trapping on the chromatin in olaparib-treated cells. Elevated PARP trapping generates replication gaps, leading to the restoration of PARP inhibitor sensitivity in chemoresistant BRCA1/2-deficient cells. Our findings suggest that combining 5hmC with olaparib can restore the sensitivity of chemoresistant BRCA1/2-deficient cells.