Background:

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) exploit tumour-specific defects in homologous recombination DNA repair and continuous dosing is most efficacious. Early clinical trial data with rucaparib suggested that it caused sustained PARP inhibition. Here we investigate the mechanism of this durable inhibition and potential exploitation.

Methods:

Uptake and retention of rucaparib and persistence of PARP inhibition were determined by radiochemical and immunological assays in human cancer cell lines. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rucaparib were determined in tumour-bearing mice and the efficacy of different schedules of rucaparib was determined in mice bearing homologous recombination DNA repair-defective tumours.

Results:

Rucaparib accumulation is carrier mediated (Km= 8.4±1.2 μ M, Vmax= 469±22 pmol per 10 6 cells per 10 min), reaching steady-state levels> 10 times higher than the extracellular concentration within 30 min. Rucaparib is retained in cells and inhibits PARP⩾ 50% for⩾ 72 h days after a 30-min pulse of 400 n M. In Capan-1 tumour-bearing mice rucaparib accumulated and was retained in the tumours, and PARP was inhibited for 7 days following a single dose of 10 mg kg− 1 ip or 150 mg kg− 1 po by 70% and 90%, respectively. Weekly dosing of 150 mg kg− 1 po once a week was as effective as 10 mg kg− 1 ip daily for five days every week for 6 weeks in delaying Capan-1 tumour growth.

Conclusions:

Rucaparib accumulates and is retained in tumour cells and inhibits PARP for long periods such that weekly schedules have equivalent anticancer activity to daily dosing in a pre-clinical model, suggesting that clinical evaluation of alternative schedules of rucaparib should be considered.