Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34050002›Full record

ArticleMolecular cancer research : MCR2021

R-Loop-Mediated ssDNA Breaks Accumulate Following Short-Term Exposure to the HDAC Inhibitor Romidepsin.

Maryam Safari, Thomas Litman, Robert W Robey, Andrés Aguilera, Arup R Chakraborty, William C Reinhold, Agnes Basseville, Lubov Petrukhin, Luigi Scotto, Owen A O'Connor and 3 more

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular cancer research : MCR, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 28 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Combined HDAC and eIF4A inhibition: A novel epigenetic therapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.Drug resistance updates : reviews and commentaries in antimicrobial and anticancer chemotherapy · 2026
    Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Mechanisms underlining R-loop biology and implications for human disease.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2025
    Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Review
  14. Review
  15. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 7 institutions in 4 countries.

Maryam SafariDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York.ORCID 0000-0002-4972-6780
Thomas LitmanUniversity of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0002-6068-901X
Robert W RobeyCenter for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
Andrés AguileraCentro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-4782-1714
Arup R ChakrabortyCenter for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
William C ReinholdCenter for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
Agnes BassevilleCenter for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.ORCID 0000-0002-9349-1819
Lubov PetrukhinDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Luigi ScottoCenter for Lymphoid Malignancies, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Owen A O'ConnorDepartment of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Yves PommierCenter for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
Antonio T FojoDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Susan E BatesDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York. seb2227@cumc.columbia.edu.ORCID 0000-0001-6708-0330
National Cancer Institute · USNew York Oncology Hematology · USCentro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa · ESInstitut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest · FRLymphatic Education & Research Network · USUniversity of Copenhagen · DKUniversity of Virginia · US

Funding

DNA Repair, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and Apoptosis as Targets for Anticancer DrugsZIABC006150 · NCI · DIVISION OF BASIC SCIENCES - NCI · PI POMMIER, YVES · 2009 to 2025
$23.0M
DNA Topoisomerases as Target of Action of Anticancer DrugsZIABC006161 · NCI · DIVISION OF BASIC SCIENCES - NCI · PI POMMIER, YVES · 2009 to 2025
$16.8M
Translational Studies of the Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor RomidepsinZIABC010621 · NCI · DIVISION OF BASIC SCIENCES - NCI · PI BATES, SUSAN · 2009 to 2015
$6.2M
PROTEIN-ASSOCIATED DNA BREAKS AS INDICATOR OF TOPOISOMERASE INHIBITIONZ01BC006150 · NCI · DIVISION OF BASIC SCIENCES - NCI · PI POMMIER, YVES · 1996 to 2008
$1.5M
DNA TOPOISOMERASES AS TARGET OF ACTION OF ANTICANCER DRUGSZ01BC006161 · NCI · DIVISION OF BASIC SCIENCES - NCI · PI POMMIER, YVES · 1996 to 2008
$1.5M
Comparison of molecular factors to drug activities.ZICBC011509 · NCI · DIVISION OF BASIC SCIENCES - NCI · PI REINHOLD, WILLIAM · 2013 to 2025
$1.4M
DNA methylation data development and for small cell lung cancerZICBC011820 · NCI · DIVISION OF BASIC SCIENCES - NCI · PI REINHOLD, WILLIAM · 2018 to 2025
$907k
Intramural NIH HHS Z01 BC006150Intramural NIH HHS Z01 BC006161Intramural NIH HHS ZIA BC010621Intramural NIH HHS ZIC BC011509
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) induce hyperacetylation of histones by blocking HDAC catalytic sites. Despite regulatory approvals in hematological malignancies, limited solid tumor clinical activity has constrained their potential, arguing for better understanding of mechanisms of action (MOA). Multiple activities of HDACis have been demonstrated, dependent on cell context, beyond the canonical induction of gene expression. Here, using a clinically relevant exposure duration, we established DNA damage as the dominant signature using the NCI-60 cell line database and then focused on the mechanism by which hyperacetylation induces DNA damage. We identified accumulation of DNA-RNA hybrids (R-loops) following romidepsin-induced histone hyperacetylation, with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) breaks detected by single-cell electrophoresis. Our data suggest that transcription-coupled base excision repair (BER) is involved in resolving ssDNA breaks that, when overwhelmed, evolve to lethal dsDNA breaks. We show that inhibition of BER proteins such as PARP will increase dsDNA breaks in this context. These studies establish accumulation of R-loops as a consequence of romidepsin-mediated histone hyperacetylation. We believe that the insights provided will inform design of more effective combination therapy with HDACis for treatment of solid tumors. IMPLICATIONS: Key HDAC inhibitor mechanisms of action remain unknown; we identify accumulation of DNA-RNA hybrids (R-loops) due to chromatin hyperacetylation that provokes single-stranded DNA damage as a first step toward cell death.

Indexed as

AcetylationCell Line, TumorDepsipeptidesDNA DamageDNA RepairDNA, Single-StrandedHistone Deacetylase InhibitorsHistone DeacetylasesHumansPC-3 CellsR-Loop StructuresDepsipeptidesDNA, Single-StrandedHistone Deacetylase InhibitorsHistone Deacetylasesromidepsin

Identifiers

PMID34050002
PMCPMC8974437
OpenAlexW3164714401

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.