scholarly journals Afatinib Overcomes Pemetrexed-Acquired Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Harboring an EML4-ALK Rearrangement

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1538
Author(s):  
Ji-Hyun Kwon ◽  
Kui-Jin Kim ◽  
Ji Hea Sung ◽  
Koung Jin Suh ◽  
Ji Yun Lee ◽  
...  

Background: The aim of this study is to elucidate the mechanisms of acquired resistance to pemetrexed in echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4)-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearranged non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: We analyzed the sensitivity to pemetrexed and the expression patterns of various proteins after pemetrexed treatment in the cell lines, A549, NCI-H460, NCI-H2228 harboring EML4-ALK variant 3, and NCI-H3122 harboring EML4-ALK variant 1. Pemetrexed-resistant cell lines were also generated through long-term exposure to pemetrexed. Results: The EML4-ALK variant 1 rearranged NCI-H3122 was found to be more sensitive than the other cell lines. Cell cycle analysis after pemetrexed treatment showed that the fraction of cells in the S phase increased in A549, NCI-H460, and NCI-H2228, whereas the fraction in the apoptotic sub-G1 phase increased in NCI-H3122. The pemetrexed-resistant NCI-H3122 cell line showed increased expression of EGFR and HER2 compared to the parent cell line, whereas A549 and NCI-H460 did not show this change. The pan-HER inhibitor afatinib inhibited this alternative signaling pathway, resulting in a superior cytotoxic effect in pemetrexed-resistant NCI-H3122 cell lines compared to that in the parental cells line. Conclusion: The activation of EGFR-HER2 contributes to the acquisition of resistance to pemetrexed in EML4-ALK rearranged non-small cell lung cancer. However, the inhibition of this alternative survival signaling pathway with RNAi against EGFR-HER2 and with afatinib overcomes this resistance.

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salma El-Shafie ◽  
Sherif Ashraf Fahmy ◽  
Laila Ziko ◽  
Nada Elzahed ◽  
Tamer Shoeib ◽  
...  

Following the discovery of cisplatin over 50 years ago, platinum-based drugs have been a widely used and effective form of cancer therapy, primarily causing cell death by inducing DNA damage and triggering apoptosis. However, the dose-limiting toxicity of these drugs has led to the development of second and third generation platinum-based drugs that maintain the cytotoxicity of cisplatin but have a more acceptable side-effect profile. In addition to the creation of new analogs, tumor delivery systems such as liposome encapsulated platinum drugs have been developed and are currently in clinical trials. In this study, we have created the first PEGylated liposomal form of nedaplatin using thin film hydration. Nedaplatin, the main focus of this study, has been exclusively used in Japan for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck, esophageal, bladder, ovarian and cervical cancer. Here, we investigate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of free and liposomal nedaplatin on the human non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549 and human osteosarcoma cell line U2OS. We use a variety of assays including ICP MS and the highly sensitive histone H2AX assay to assess drug internalization and to quantify DNA damage induction. Strikingly, we show that by encapsulating nedaplatin in PEGylated liposomes, the platinum uptake cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of nedaplatin was significantly enhanced in both cancer cell lines. Moreover, the enhanced platinum uptake as well as the cytotoxic/antiproliferative effect of liposomal nedaplatin appears to be selective to cancer cells as it was not observed on two noncancer cell lines. This is the first study to develop PEGylated liposomal nedaplatin and to demonstrate the superior cell delivery potential of this product.


2019 ◽  
Vol 143 ◽  
pp. 106344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Terzuoli ◽  
Filomena Costanza ◽  
Valerio Ciccone ◽  
Marina Ziche ◽  
Lucia Morbidelli ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Liao ◽  
Jianguo Feng ◽  
Weichao Sun ◽  
Chao Wu ◽  
Jingyao Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Cold-inducible RNA binding protein (CIRP) is a newly discovered proto-oncogene. In this study, we investigated the role of CIRP in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using clinic samples, cultured cell lines and animal lung cancer models. Methods: Tissue arrays, IHC and HE staining, immunoblotting, and qRT-PCR were used to detect the indicated gene expression; Plasmid and siRNA transfections as well as viral infection were used to manipulate gene expression; Cell proliferation assay, cell cycle analysis, cell migration and invasion analysis, soft agar colony formation assay, tail intravenous injecting and subcutaneously inoculating of animal models were performed to study the role of CIRP in NSCLC cells; Gene expression microarray was used to select the underlying pathways; RNA immunoprecipitation assay, biotin pull-down assay, immuno-purification assay, mRNA decay analyses and luciferase reporter assay were performed to elucidate the mechanisms. The log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test, independent sample T test, the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test, spearman rank test and two-tailed independent sample T-test were used accordingly in our study. Results: Our data showed that CIRP was highly expressed in NSCLC tissue, and its level was negatively correlated with the prognosis of NSCLC patients. By manipulating CIRP expression in A549, H460, H1299, and H1650 cell lines, we demonstrated that CIRP overexpression promoted the transition of G1/G0 phase to S phase and the formation of enhanced malignant phenotype of NSCLC, reflected by increased proliferation, enhanced invasion/metastasis and greater tumorigenic capabilities both in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptome sequencing further demonstrated that CIRP acted on cell cycle, DNA replication and Wnt signaling pathway to exert its pro-oncogenic action. Mechanistically, CIRP directly bound to the 3’- and 5'-UTR of CTNNB1 mRNA, leading to enhanced stability and translation of CTNNB1 mRNA and promote IRES-mediated protein synthesis, respectively. Eventually, the increased CTNNB1 protein levels mediated excessive activation of the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway and its downstream C-myc, COX-2, CCND1, MMP7, VEGFA and CD44. Conclusion: Our results support CIRP as a candidate oncogene in NSCLC and a potential target for NSCLC therapy.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cuilan Sun ◽  
Weiwei Gao ◽  
Jiatao Liu ◽  
Hao Cheng ◽  
Jiqing Hao

Abstract Background: This study investigated the role of fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1) in regulating gefitinib resistance of PC9/GR non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: The effect of different concentrations of gefitinib on cell proliferation were evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. FGL1 expression in the normal human bronchial epithelial cell line Beas-2B, as well as four lung tumor cell lines, H1975, A549, PC9, and PC9/GR, was investigated by using western blotting and qRT-PCR. FGL1 was knocked down using small interfering RNA to evaluate the effects of FGL1 on PC9 and PC9/GR. The correlation between FGL1 expression and gefitinib resistance was determined in vitro via CCK-8 and colony formation assays, and flow cytometry and in vivo via flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Results: FGL1 expression was significantly upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer cells with EGFR mutation and higher in the gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cell line PC9/GR than in the gefitinib-sensitive NSCLC cell line PC9. Further, FGL1 expression in PC9 and PC9/GR cells increased in response to gefitinib treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Knockdown of FGL1 suppressed cell viability, reduced the gefitinib IC50 value, and enhanced apoptosis in PC9 and PC9/GR cells upon gefitinib treatment. Mouse xenograft experiments showed that FGL1 knockdown in PC9/GR tumor cells enhanced the inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing actions of gefitinib. The potential mechanism of gefitinib in inducing apoptosis of PC9/GR cells involves inhibition of PARP1 and caspase 3 expression via suppression of FGL1.Conclusions: FGL1 confers gefitinib resistance in the NSCLC cell line PC9/GR by regulating the PARP1/caspase 3 pathway. Hence, FGL1 is a potential therapeutic target to improve the treatment response of NSCLC patients with acquired resistance to gefitinib.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2596
Author(s):  
Wonjun Ji ◽  
Yun Jung Choi ◽  
Myoung-Hee Kang ◽  
Ki Jung Sung ◽  
Dong Ha Kim ◽  
...  

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with resistance during EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy. Here, we investigated whether EMT is associated with acquired resistance to 3rd generation EGFR-TKIs, and we explored the effects of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) inhibitors on EMT-mediated EGFR-TKIs resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We established 3rd generation EGFR-TKI resistant cell lines (H1975/WR and H1975/OR) via repeated exposure to WZ4002 and osimertinib. The two resistant cell lines showed phenotypic changes to a spindle-cell shape, had a reduction of epithelial marker proteins, an induction of vimentin expression, and enhanced cellular mobility. The EMT-related resistant cells had higher sensitivity to THZ1 than the parental cells, although THZ1 treatment did not inhibit EGFR activity. This phenomenon was also observed in TGF-β1 induced EMT cell lines. THZ1 treatment induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in all of the cell lines. In addition, THZ1 treatment led to drug-tolerant, EMT-related resistant cells, and these THZ1-tolerant cells partially recovered their sensitivity to 3rd generation EGFR-TKIs. Taken together, EMT was associated with acquired resistance to 3rd generation EGFR-TKIs, and CDK7 inhibitors could potentially be used as a therapeutic strategy to overcome EMT associated EGFR-TKI resistance in NSCLC.


Blood ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 82 (9) ◽  
pp. 2837-2844 ◽  
Author(s):  
MS Topp ◽  
M Koenigsmann ◽  
A Mire-Sluis ◽  
D Oberberg ◽  
F Eitelbach ◽  
...  

Abstract Cytokines play an important role in activating the immune system against malignant cells. One of these cytokines, interleukin-4 (IL-4) has entered clinical phase I trials because of its immunoregulatory potency. In the present study we report that recombinant human (rh) IL- 4 has major direct antiproliferative effects on one human lung cancer cell line (CCL 185) in vitro as measured by a human tumor cloning assay (HTCA), tritiated thymidine uptake, and counting cell numbers and marginal activity in a second cell line (HTB 56) in the HTCA. This activity could be abolished by neutralizing antibody against rhIL-4. The biological response of the tumor cells to the cytokine is correlated with expression of receptors for human IL-4 on both the mRNA level and the protein level. The responsive cell line, CCL 185, secretes IL-6 after being incubated with rhIL-4. On the other hand, neutralizing antibodies against IL-6 showed no influence on the growth modulatory efficacy of rhIL-4 in this cell line. Furthermore, CCL 185 does not show detectable production of IL-1, tumor necrosis factor alpha or interferon gamma after incubation with rhIL-4. Thus, the response to rhIL-4 is not mediated through autocrine production of these cytokines triggered by rhIL-4. In a next series of experiments some of the cell lines were xenotransplanted to BALB/c nu/nu mice. Subsequently, the mice were treated for 12 days with two doses of 0.5 mg/m2 rhIL-4 or control vehicle subcutaneously per day. Treatment with rhIL-4 yielded a significant inhibition of tumor growth versus control in two of the non-small cell lung cancer cell lines being responsive in vitro (CCL 185, HTB 56). Histology of the tumors in both groups showed no marked infiltration of the tumors with murine hematopoietic and lymphocytic cells consistent with the species specificity of IL-4. In contrast, no tumor growth inhibition was found in the small cell lung cancer cell lines (HTB 119, HTB 120) being nonresponsive in vitro. We conclude that rhIL-4 has direct antiproliferative effects on the growth of some human non-small cell lung cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo, which together with its regulatory effects on various effector cell populations makes this cytokine an interesting candidate for further investigation in experimental cancer treatment.


Blood ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 82 (9) ◽  
pp. 2837-2844
Author(s):  
MS Topp ◽  
M Koenigsmann ◽  
A Mire-Sluis ◽  
D Oberberg ◽  
F Eitelbach ◽  
...  

Cytokines play an important role in activating the immune system against malignant cells. One of these cytokines, interleukin-4 (IL-4) has entered clinical phase I trials because of its immunoregulatory potency. In the present study we report that recombinant human (rh) IL- 4 has major direct antiproliferative effects on one human lung cancer cell line (CCL 185) in vitro as measured by a human tumor cloning assay (HTCA), tritiated thymidine uptake, and counting cell numbers and marginal activity in a second cell line (HTB 56) in the HTCA. This activity could be abolished by neutralizing antibody against rhIL-4. The biological response of the tumor cells to the cytokine is correlated with expression of receptors for human IL-4 on both the mRNA level and the protein level. The responsive cell line, CCL 185, secretes IL-6 after being incubated with rhIL-4. On the other hand, neutralizing antibodies against IL-6 showed no influence on the growth modulatory efficacy of rhIL-4 in this cell line. Furthermore, CCL 185 does not show detectable production of IL-1, tumor necrosis factor alpha or interferon gamma after incubation with rhIL-4. Thus, the response to rhIL-4 is not mediated through autocrine production of these cytokines triggered by rhIL-4. In a next series of experiments some of the cell lines were xenotransplanted to BALB/c nu/nu mice. Subsequently, the mice were treated for 12 days with two doses of 0.5 mg/m2 rhIL-4 or control vehicle subcutaneously per day. Treatment with rhIL-4 yielded a significant inhibition of tumor growth versus control in two of the non-small cell lung cancer cell lines being responsive in vitro (CCL 185, HTB 56). Histology of the tumors in both groups showed no marked infiltration of the tumors with murine hematopoietic and lymphocytic cells consistent with the species specificity of IL-4. In contrast, no tumor growth inhibition was found in the small cell lung cancer cell lines (HTB 119, HTB 120) being nonresponsive in vitro. We conclude that rhIL-4 has direct antiproliferative effects on the growth of some human non-small cell lung cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo, which together with its regulatory effects on various effector cell populations makes this cytokine an interesting candidate for further investigation in experimental cancer treatment.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cuilan Sun ◽  
Weiwei Gao ◽  
Jiatao Liu ◽  
Hao Cheng ◽  
Jiqing Hao

Abstract Background: This study investigated the role of fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1) in regulating gefitinib resistance of PC9/GR non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: The effect of different concentrations of gefitinib on cell proliferation were evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. FGL1 expression in the normal human bronchial epithelial cell line Beas-2B, as well as four lung tumor cell lines, H1975, A549, PC9, and PC9/GR, was investigated by using western blotting and qRT-PCR. FGL1 was knocked down using small interfering RNA to evaluate the effects of FGL1 on PC9 and PC9/GR. The correlation between FGL1 expression and gefitinib resistance was determined in vitro via CCK-8 and colony formation assays, and flow cytometry and in vivo via flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry.7 Results: FGL1 expression was significantly upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer cells with EGFR mutation and higher in the gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cell line PC9/GR than in the gefitinib-sensitive NSCLC cell line PC9. Further, FGL1 expression in PC9 and PC9/GR cells increased in response to gefitinib treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Knockdown of FGL1 suppressed cell viability, reduced the gefitinib IC50 value, and enhanced apoptosis in PC9 and PC9/GR cells upon gefitinib treatment. Mouse xenograft experiments showed that FGL1 knockdown in PC9/GR tumor cells enhanced the inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing actions of gefitinib. The potential mechanism of gefitinib in inducing apoptosis of PC9/GR cells involves inhibition of PARP1 and caspase 3 expression via suppression of FGL1.Conclusions: FGL1 confers gefitinib resistance in the NSCLC cell line PC9/GR by regulating the PARP1/caspase 3 pathway. Hence, FGL1 is a potential therapeutic target to improve the treatment response of NSCLC patients with acquired resistance to gefitinib.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiangnan Zheng ◽  
Lingyun Dong ◽  
Xiaoyun Hu ◽  
Ying Xiao ◽  
Qiaozhen Wu ◽  
...  

Abstract ObjectiveThe mortality rate of lung cancer ranks first in malignant tumors. Among them, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of all lung cancer patients. In this study, we explore part of the mechanism of development and progression of NSCLC.Methods/ ResultsFirstly, there was an increase in microRNA-221-3p (miR-221-3p) expression and a decrease in Axin2 expression in NSCLC tissues using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Further studies showed that miR-221-3p inhibited the expression of Axin2, which negatively regulated the Wnt signaling pathway. With the method of inhibiting and overexpressing the expression of miR-221-3p and/or Axin2 respectively in NSCLC cell lines A549 and H1975, we found that inhibiting the expression of miR-221-3p leaded to a decrease in cell proliferation, migration and invasion, just like the results of overexpressing Axin2. Relatively speaking, overexpression of miR-221-3P in NSCLC cell lines showed the increase of proliferation as well as the decrease of apoptosis. Thus, we knew that miR-221-3p promoted the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells in vitro. What’s more, according to western blot and EdU assay, we demonstrated that overexpression of miR-221-3p inhibited the expression of Axin2 and subsequently activate classical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. At last, a series of methods were used to identify that miR-221-3p inhibited Axin2 expression, increased cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and decreased cell apoptosis.ConclusionOur results suggest that miR-221-3p inhibits the expression of Axin2 and indirectly activates the typical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thus promoting tumor proliferation and invasion in NSCLC.


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