LAMC2 promotes EGFR cell membrane localization and acts as a novel biomarker for tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) sensitivity in lung cancer

Abstract

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the first and most prominent driver genes known to promote malignant lung cancer. Investigating regulatory mechanisms beyond ligand-receptor binding, phosphorylation, and receptor kinase activation as means of EGFR signaling activation is important for improving EGFR-targeted therapy. Here, we report that Laminin-5γ-2 (LAMC2) retained high oncogenic capacity in lung cancer, silencing LAMC2 inhibited EGFR-induced cell proliferation and tumor growth in vivo. Deletion mutation experiments showed that both the EGF-Lam and LamB regions of LAMC2 are necessary for EGFR receptor binding, and that LAMC2 and EGFR were found to co-localize at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. In addition, LAMC2 overexpression enhanced EGFR membrane deposition and promoted EGFR transport from the ER. Moreover, LAMC2 was necessary for preventing EGFR protein degradation via ubiquitination. Lastly, our study showed that high LAMC2 expression is positively associated with response to gefitinib (EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor) treatment. Overall, our study revealed a new regulatory mechanism of LAMC2 in promoting EGFR protein expression and stability by facilitating ER transport and preventing protein degradation via ubiquitination. Moreover, LAMC2 may serve as a stratifying biomarker for patients suitable for EGFR-TKI treatment.