A high-throughput chemical screen with FDA approved drugs reveals that the antihypertensive drug Spironolactone impairs cancer cell survival by inhibiting homology directed repair

作者：Shahar Or David; Kalousi Alkmini; Eini Lital; Fisher Benoit; Weiss Amelie; Darr Jonatan; Mazina Olga; Bramson Shay; Kupiec Martin; Eden Amir; Meshorer Eran; Mazin Alexander V; Brino Laurent; Goldberg Michal; Soutoglou Evi^*

来源：Nucleic Acids Research, 2014, 42(9): 5689-5701.

DOI：10.1093/nar/gku217

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most severe type of DNA damage. DSBs are repaired by non-homologous end-joining or homology directed repair (HDR). Identifying novel small molecules that affect HDR is of great importance both for research use and therapy. Molecules that elevate HDR may improve gene targeting whereas inhibiting molecules can be used for chemotherapy, since some of the cancers are more sensitive to repair impairment. Here, we performed a high-throughput chemical screen for FDA approved drugs, which affect HDR in cancer cells. We found that HDR frequencies are increased by retinoic acid and Idoxuridine and reduced by the antihypertensive drug Spironolactone. We further revealed that Spironolactone impairs Rad51 foci formation, sensitizes cancer cells to DNA damaging agents, to Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and cross-linking agents and inhibits tumor growth in xenografts, in mice. This study suggests Spironolactone as a new candidate for chemotherapy.

• 出版日期2014