Inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) induces apoptosis in lung cancer cell lines.

We have tested PJ34, a potent inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), against various lung cancer cell lines (Calu-6, A549, and H460) and normal human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). While using WST1 dye assay, lung cancer cells exhibited LD(50) values of approximately 30 μM PJ34 (72-hr assay). Molecular data showed that the effect of PJ34-induced apoptosis on lung cancer cells occurs via a caspase-dependent pathway. The present study has clearly shown that (a) PARP inhibitor can independently kill tumor cells, (b) caspase-3 has modest influence on PARP-inhibitor-mediated cancer-specific toxicity, and (c) a pan-caspase inhibitor decreases the apoptotic effect of PJ34.