Modulating NPC1L1 to Potentiate PARP Inhibitor-Induced Ferroptosis and Immune Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have shown significant efficacy in treating BRCA-mutated cancers; however, a significant proportion of patients fail to respond. Emerging evidence highlights the role of PARP in lipid metabolism, suggest-ing its modulation as a novel strategy to regulate tumor progression. In this study, lipidomics and transcriptomics analyses were conducted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying PARP inhibitor-induced ferroptosis and immune modulation in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We demonstrated that the PARP inhibitor Niraparib significantly reprograms lipid metabolism in TNBC cells, marked by elevated phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and cholesterol ester (ChE) levels. This metabolic shift was mechanistically linked to upregulation of the cholesterol transporter NPC1L1 via the PARP1-RELA-NPC1L1 signaling axis, which subsequently activated the AKT pathway. Combinatorial treatment with Niraparib and either Ezetimibe (an NPC1L1 inhibitor) or AZD5363 (an AKT inhibitor) synergistically enhanced TNBC cell death by promoting ferroptosis through glutathione depletion and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, NPC1L1 inhibition amplified PARP inhibitor-induced immune responses, increasing CD8 T cell infiltration and cytotoxicity in tumors. In conclusion, our findings establish NPC1L1 as a critical mediator of PARP inhibitor efficacy and propose dual targeting of lipid metabolism, providing a new therapeutic approach for the combination treatment of TNBC.