BRCA1 orchestrates the response to BI-2536 and its combination with alisertib in MYC-driven small cell lung cancer

Abstract PLK1 is currently at the forefront of mitotic research and has emerged as a potential target for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) therapy. However, the factors influencing the efficacy of PLK1 inhibitors remain unclear. Herein, BRCA1 was identified as a key factor affecting the response of SCLC cells to BI-2536. Targeting AURKA with alisertib, at a non-toxic concentration, reduced the BI-2536-induced accumulation of BRCA1 and RAD51, leading to DNA repair defects and mitotic cell death in SCLC cells. In vivo experiments confirmed that combining BI-2536 with alisertib impaired DNA repair capacity and significantly delayed tumor growth. Additionally, GSEA analysis and loss- and gain-of-function assays demonstrated that MYC/MYCN signaling is crucial for determining the sensitivity of SCLC cells to BI-2536 and its combination with alisertib. The study further revealed a positive correlation between RAD51 expression and PLK1/AURKA expression, and a negative correlation with the IC50 values of BI-2536. Manipulating RAD51 expression significantly influenced the efficacy of BI-2536 and restored the MYC/MYCN-induced enhancement of BI-2536 sensitivity in SCLC cells. Our findings indicate that the BRCA1 and MYC/MYCN-RAD51 axes govern the response of small cell lung cancer to BI-2536 and its combination with alisertib. This study propose the combined use of BI-2536 and alisertib as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of SCLC patients with MYC/MYCN activation.