Targeting bromodomain protein ANCCA/ATAD2 enhances the efficacy of DNA-damaging chemotherapy agents and radiation

Bromodomain proteins such as BRD4 chromatin regulator are attractive cancer therapeutic targets. ANCCA (AAA+ nuclear coregulatory cancer-associated protein, also known as ATPase family AAA domain containing 2 or ATAD2) is a novel oncology drug target and contains a bromodomain and an ATPase domain. Our research group as well as others previously identified ANCCA/ATAD2 as a putative oncogene and a poor prognosis factor in many types of cancer including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In the present study, it is reported for the first time that the expression of ANCCA was highly induced by DNA-damaging chemotherapy agents such as carboplatin, doxorubicin and mitomycin C, as well as ionizing radiation. Notably, ANCCA is required for efficient dissolution of DNA damage foci and homologous recombination. Further studies revealed that ANCCA mediates the optimal expression and activation of DNA damage response and repair factors including Chk1, Chk2 and BRCA1, and that ANCCA is recruited to the promoter of BRCA1 in response to DNA damage. Moreover, ANCCA knockdown sensitizes TNBC cells to carboplatin. Collectively, these data provide the first evidence indicating that ANCCA is a novel mediator of DNA damage response and repair and that targeting ANCCA can enhance the efficacy of radiation and chemotherapies.