Increases in mRNA and Protein Levels of the Genes for the Actin-Binding Proteins Profilin, Fascin, and Ezrin Promote Metastasis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality; thus, therapeutic targets continue to be developed. Anoctamin1 (ANO1), a novel drug target considered for the treatment of NSCLC, is a Ca2+-activated chloride channel (CaCC) overexpressed in various carcinomas. It plays an important role in the development of cancer; however, the role of ANO1 in NSCLC is unclear. In this study, diethylstilbestrol (DES) was identified as a selective ANO1 inhibitor using high-throughput screening. We found that DES inhibited yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) fluorescence reduction caused by ANO1 activation but did not inhibit cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator channel activity or P2Y activation-related cytosolic Ca2+ levels. Additionally, electrophysiological analyses showed that DES significantly reduced ANO1 channel activity, but it more potently reduced ANO1 protein levels. DES also inhibited the viability and migration of PC9 cells via the reduction in ANO1, phospho-ERK1/2, and phospho-EGFR levels. Moreover, DES induced apoptosis by increasing caspase-3 activity and PARP-1 cleavage in PC9 cells, but it did not affect the viability of hepatocytes. These results suggest that ANO1 is a crucial target in the treatment of NSCLC, and DES may be developed as a potential anti-NSCLC therapeutic agent.

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Elevating CDCA3 levels in non-small cell lung cancer enhances sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy

Communications Biology ◽

10.1038/s42003-021-02136-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Katrina Kildey ◽

Neha S. Gandhi ◽

Katherine B. Sahin ◽

Esha T. Shah ◽

Eric Boittier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽

Cell Lung Cancer ◽

Genome Instability ◽

Small Cell ◽

Small Cell Lung ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Platinum Based Chemotherapy ◽

Platinum Agents

AbstractPlatinum-based chemotherapy remains the cornerstone of treatment for most non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases either as maintenance therapy or in combination with immunotherapy. However, resistance remains a primary issue. Our findings point to the possibility of exploiting levels of cell division cycle associated protein-3 (CDCA3) to improve response of NSCLC tumours to therapy. We demonstrate that in patients and in vitro analyses, CDCA3 levels correlate with measures of genome instability and platinum sensitivity, whereby CDCA3high tumours are sensitive to cisplatin and carboplatin. In NSCLC, CDCA3 protein levels are regulated by the ubiquitin ligase APC/C and cofactor Cdh1. Here, we identified that the degradation of CDCA3 is modulated by activity of casein kinase 2 (CK2) which promotes an interaction between CDCA3 and Cdh1. Supporting this, pharmacological inhibition of CK2 with CX-4945 disrupts CDCA3 degradation, elevating CDCA3 levels and increasing sensitivity to platinum agents. We propose that combining CK2 inhibitors with platinum-based chemotherapy could enhance platinum efficacy in CDCA3low NSCLC tumours and benefit patients.

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LncRNA MCM3AP-AS1 sponges miR-148a to enhance cell invasion and migration in small cell lung cancer

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-021-08365-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hua Luo ◽

Yukun Zhang ◽

Guangmei Qin ◽

Bing Jiang ◽

Lili Miao

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽

Cell Lung Cancer ◽

Cell Invasion ◽

Small Cell ◽

Small Cell Lung ◽

Invasion And Migration ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

And Migration

Abstract Background MCM3AP-AS1 is a recently characterized lncRNA playing an oncogenic role in several cancers. However, its role in lung cancer remains unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the functions of MCM3AP-AS1 in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and the possible underlying mechanisms. Methods MCM3AP-AS1 and ROCK1 levels in SCLC patients were analyzed by qPCR. RNA pull-down and luciferase assays were performed to analyze the interaction between MCM3AP-AS1 and miR-148a. ROCK1 mRNA and protein levels were detected by qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Cell invasion and migration were analyzed by Transwell assays. Results MCM3AP-AS1 was upregulated in patients with SCLC, and a high MCM3AP-AS1 level was accompanied by a low survival rate. The binding of MCM3AP-AS1 to miR-148a predicted by bioinformatics analysis was verified by RNA pull-down and luciferase assays. However, MCM3AP-AS1 and miR-148a did not affect each other’s expression. ROCK1 was upregulated in SCLC tissues and positively correlated with MCM3AP-AS1. In SCLC cells, MCM3AP-AS1 overexpression increased ROCK1 and promoted cancer cell invasion and migration, while miR-148a overexpression showed the opposite effects and attenuated the effects of MCM3AP-AS1 overexpression on ROCK1 expression and cell behaviors. Conclusions MCM3AP-AS1 sponges miR-148a, thereby increasing SCLC cell invasion and migration via upregulating ROCK1 expression.

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Valproic acid (VPA) enhances cisplatin sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cells via HDAC2 mediated down regulation of ABCA1

Biological Chemistry ◽

10.1515/hsz-2016-0307 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 398 (7) ◽

pp. 785-792 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Jian-Hui Chen ◽

Yu-Long Zheng ◽

Chuan-Qin Xu ◽

Li-Zhi Gu ◽

Zong-Li Ding ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Valproic Acid ◽

Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽

Cell Lung Cancer ◽

Small Cell ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Small Cell Lung ◽

Down Regulation ◽

Over Expression ◽

Protein Levels

Abstract Valproic acid (VPA) has been suggested to be a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI). Our present study revealed that VPA at 1 mm, which had no effect on cell proliferation, can significantly increase the sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells to cisplatin (DDP). VPA treatment markedly decreased the mRNA and protein levels of ABCA1, while had no significant effect on ABCA3, ABCA7 or ABCB10. Luciferase reporter assays showed that VPA can decrease the ABCA1 promoter activity in both A549 and H358 cells. VPA treatment also decreased the phosphorylation of SP1, which can bind to −100 and −166 bp in the promoter of ABCA1. While the phosphorylation of c-Fos and c-Jun were not changed in VPA treated NSCLC cells. Over expression of HDAC2 attenuated VPA induced down regulation of ABCA1 mRNA expression and promoter activities. Over expression of HDAC2 also attenuated VPA induced DDP sensitivity of NSCLC cells. These data revealed that VPA can increase the DDP sensitivity of NSCLC cells via down regulation of ABCA1 through HDAC2/SP1 signals. It suggested that combination of VPA and anticancer drugs such as DDP might be great helpful for treatment of NSCLC patients.

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Randomized International Phase III Trial of ERCC1 and RRM1 Expression–Based Chemotherapy Versus Gemcitabine/Carboplatin in Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2012.46.9783 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (19) ◽

pp. 2404-2412 ◽

Cited By ~ 90

Author(s):

Gerold Bepler ◽

Charles Williams ◽

Michael J. Schell ◽

Wei Chen ◽

Zhong Zheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽

Expression Analysis ◽

Cell Lung Cancer ◽

Progression Free Survival ◽

Median Number ◽

Small Cell ◽

Phase Iii ◽

Small Cell Lung ◽

Protein Levels

Purpose We assessed whether chemotherapy selection based on in situ ERCC1 and RRM1 protein levels would improve survival in patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods Eligible patients were randomly assigned 2:1 to the trial's experimental arm, which consisted of gemcitabine/carboplatin if RRM1 and ERCC1 were low, docetaxel/carboplatin if RRM1 was high and ERCC1 was low, gemcitabine/docetaxel if RRM1 was low and ERCC1 was high, and docetaxel/vinorelbine if both were high. In the control arm, patients received gemcitabine/carboplatin. The trial was powered for a 32% improvement in 6-month progression-free survival (PFS). Results Of 331 patients registered, 275 were eligible. The median number of cycles given was four in both arms. A tumor rebiopsy specifically for expression analysis was required in 17% of patients. The median time from informed consent to expression analysis was 11 days. We found no statistically significant differences between the experimental arm and the control arm in PFS (6.1 months v 6.9 months) or overall survival (11.0 months v 11.3 months). A subset analysis revealed that patients with low levels for both proteins who received the same treatment in both treatment arms had a statistically better PFS (P = .02) in the control arm (8.1 months) compared with the experimental arm (5.0 months). Conclusion This demonstrates that protein expression analysis for therapeutic decision making is feasible in newly diagnosed patients with advanced-stage NSCLC. A tumor rebiopsy is safe, required in 17%, and acceptable to 89% (47 of 53) of patients.

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