Rucaparib antagonize multidrug resistance in cervical cancer cells through blocking the function of ABC transporters

Abstract Upregulation of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter is one of the most important factors leading to multidrug resistance (MDR) in several types of cancer. In the present study, we investigated the ability of rucaparib, a Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor which is currently in clinical development, on overcoming ABC transporters-mediated MDR in cervical cancer cell lines. Rucaparib significantly enhanced the cytotoxic effects of a series of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs in drug resistance cervical cancer cell lines. Moreover, rucaparib significantly increased the accumulation of rhodamine 123 in doxorubicin- and paclitaxel-resistance cervical cancer cell lines. In addition, rucaparib significantly increased the accumulation of tritium-labeled chemotherapeutic drugs in drug resistance cervical cancer cells, and decrease the efflux of tritium-labeled chemotherapeutic drugs. Molecular docking study indicated that rucaparib could bind to the active site of the ABC transporters. The present study indicated that rucaparib could antagonize MDR in cervical cancer cells by blocking the function of ABC transporters. The results obtained in the present study provide the potential possibilities that the combination of rucaparib with other chemotherapeutic agents may benefit patients with cervical cancer.