Tumor metabolic adaptation induced by L-asparaginase reveals a vulnerability to PARP1/2 inhibitor in B-cell lymphomas

Secondary resistance to the amino-acid-depleting agent L-asparaginase (ASNase) remains poorly understood. Using ASNase-sensitive B-cell lymphoma (BCL) models, we investigate tumor relapse during treatment. Through in vitro and in vivo metabolic profiling, here we show that ASNase triggers a metabolic reprogramming characterized by increased de novo serine biosynthesis driven by phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH). This response mitigates treatment-induced oxidative stress and associated DNA damage, enabling malignant cells to survive. We evidence that ASNase-treated malignant cells exhibit features of replication stress and increase activity of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), revealing a dependence on DNA repair. Combining ASNase with the clinically approved PARP inhibitor Olaparib enhances the antineoplastic effect of each monotherapy in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, this combination shows effectiveness in homologous recombination-proficient colorectal cancer cells, suggesting broader therapeutic potential. Overall, our study identifies tumor metabolic and genomic vulnerabilities induced by ASNase and supports a rational combination strategy using clinically approved drugs.