Purpose: ABT-888, currently in phase 2 trials, is a potent oral poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor that enhances the activity of multiple DNA-damaging agents, including temozolomide (TMZ). We investigated ABT-888+TMZ combination therapy in multiple xenograft models representing various human tumors having different responses to TMZ. Experimental Design: ABT-888+TMZ efficacy in xenograft tumors implanted in subcutaneous, orthotopic, and metastatic sites was assessed by tumor burden, expression of poly(ADP-ribose) polymer, and O 6 -methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT). Results: Varying levels of ABT-888+TMZ sensitivity were evident across a broad histologic spectrum of models (55-100% tumor growth inhibition) in B-cell lymphoma, small cell lung carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, pancreatic, ovarian, breast, and prostate xenografts, including numerous regressions. Combination efficacy in otherwise TMZ nonresponsive tumors suggests that TMZ resistance may be overcome by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibition. Profound ABT-888+TMZ efficacy was seen in experimental metastases models that acquired resistance to TMZ. Moreover, TMZ resistance was overcome in crossover treatments, indicating that combination therapy may overcome acquired TMZ resistance. Neither tumor MGMT, mismatch repair, nor poly(ADP-ribose) polymer correlated with the degree of sensitivity to ABT-888+TMZ. Conclusions: Robust ABT-888+TMZ efficacy is observed across a spectrum of tumor types, including orthotopic and metastatic implantation. As many TMZ nonresponsive tumors proved sensitive to ABT-888+TMZ, this novel combination may broaden the clinical use of TMZ beyond melanoma and glioma. Although TMZ resistance may be influenced by MGMT, neither MGMT nor other mechanisms of TMZ resistance (mismatch repair) precluded sensitivity to ABT-888+TMZ. Underlying mechanisms of TMZ resistance in these models are not completely understood but likely involve mechanisms independent of MGMT. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(23):7277-90) ABT-888 is a new poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor with excellent potency (K I , 5.2 and 2.9 nmol/L, PARP-1/ PARP-2) and oral bioavailability (1). As shown previously, ABT-888 enhanced the activity of multiple DNA-damaging agents, including cisplatin, carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, irinotecan, radiation, and temozolomide (TMZ), in various xenograft and syngeneic preclinical models (2). In this study, we evaluated in detail the activity of TMZ and the ability of ABT-888 to enhance TMZ antitumor activity in multiple xenograft tumors implanted in subcutaneous, orthotopic, and metastatic sites.The PARP family of enzymes is characterized by the ability to ADP ribosylate protein substrates, implicated in many cellular processes (differentiation, gene regulation, protein degradation, replication, transcription, cell cycle progression, and methylation), and overall maintenance of genomic stability (3, 4). PARP is also critical for single-strand break repair by base excision repair (BER) that can lead to radioresi...