Cancer

Cell culture and mouse studies suggest inhibiting PARP in combination with ELAVL1 could help treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In two human PDAC cell lines treated with the PARP inhibitors Lynparza olaparib or veliparib, knockdown of ELAVL1 increased apoptosis compared with normal ELAVL1 expression. Also in the PDAC cell lines, Lynparza plus knockout of ELAVL1 decreased colony formation compared with either strategy alone. In a xenograft mouse model of PDAC, Lynparza plus ELAVL1 knockout decreased tumor growth. Next steps could including identifying ELAVL1 inhibitors and testing them in combination therapies in the model.

AstraZeneca plc markets Lynparza to treat BRCA-mutant ovarian cancer and has the compound in Phase III testing to treat pancreatic cancer and BRCA-deficient breast cancer, Phase II testing to treat solid tumors and BRCA-mutant prostate cancer, and Phase I testing to treat brain cancer...