ARID1A recruits non-homologous end joining factors to DNA breaks induced by G4 ligands

ARID1A, a subunit of the BAF chromatin remodeler, is frequently mutated in cancer. Predicting how ARID1A loss impacts cancer therapy response is challenging because it influences many cellular pathways. G quadruplex (G4) binding ligands, such as pyridostatin, show anticancer effects, but the genetic determinants influencing the response to G4 ligands are not fully understood. Here, we show that ARID1A-deficient cells are selectively sensitive to pyridostatin compared to isogenic controls. This was apparent in ovarian and colorectal cancer cell line models, and in vivo studies suggest that G4 ligands hold promise for ARID1A-deficient cancers. While ARID1A modulates pyridostatin-induced transcriptional responses, we show that toxicity in ARID1A-deficient cells arises from the defective repair of topoisomerase-induced breaks. Notably, these cells fail to efficiently accumulate non-homologous end joining proteins on chromatin following pyridostatin exposure. These data uncover a role for ARID1A in the cellular response to G4 ligands, linking remodeling to G4 ligand-induced responses.