Targeting RNA Polymerase I transcription synergises with TOP1 inhibition in potentiating the DNA damage response in high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Abstract Limited effective therapeutic options are available for patients with recurrent high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), the most common histological subtype accounting for the majority of ovarian cancer deaths. We have shown efficacy in poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor-resistant HGSC for the RNA Polymerase I (Pol I) transcription inhibitor CX-5461 through its ability to activate a nucleolar-associated DNA damage response (DDR). Here, we screen the protein-coding genome to identify potential targets whose inhibition enhances the efficacy of CX-5461. We identify a network of cooperating inhibitory interactions, including components of homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair and DNA topoisomerase 1 (TOP1). We highlight that CX-5461 combined with topotecan, a TOP1 inhibitor used as salvage therapy in HGSC, induces robust cell cycle arrest and cell death in a panel of HR-proficient HGSC cell lines. The combination potentiates a nucleolar-associated DDR via recruitment of phosphorylated replication protein A (RPA) and ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related protein (ATR). CX-5461 plus low-dose topotecan cooperate to potently inhibit xenograft tumour growth, indicating the potential for this strategy to improve salvage therapeutic regimens to treat HGSC.