Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase 1 and 2 in B-Cell Lymphoma

Abstract

B-cell lymphomas represent a heterogeneous group of malignancies characterized by complex genetic, epigenetic, and microenvironmental alterations. Defects in the DNA damage response (DDR) are critical drivers of lymphomagenesis, generating therapeutic vulnerabilities that can be exploited by targeting key DDR regulators, such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and PARP-2. Preclinical studies demonstrate that DDR-defective B-cell lymphomas are highly sensitive to PARP-1/PARP-2 inhibition, and early-phase clinical trials using nonselective PARP inhibitors, either as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or epigenetic agents, have yielded encouraging results. However, emerging evidence reveals that PARP-1 and PARP-2 play distinct roles in B-cell lymphoma pathogenesis: loss of PARP-1 accelerates lymphomagenesis, whereas loss of PARP-2 delays tumor progression. These findings challenge the current paradigm of pan-PARP inhibition and highlight the need for isoform-selective strategies. Although PARP-1–selective inhibitors have entered clinical trials for homologous recombination–deficient tumors, the development of PARP-2–selective inhibitors remains at an early stage. Future research should prioritize the design of PARP-2–targeted therapies, coupled with biomarker-driven patient selection and rational combination strategies that enhance DNA damage and modulate the tumor immune microenvironment. Selectively targeting PARP-2 offers a promising approach to improving outcomes for patients with aggressive, refractory, or relapsed B-cell lymphomas and represents a critical step forward in advancing precision oncology within hematologic malignancies.