Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Tissue Samples Research Articles

Identification of zinc finger MIZ-type containing 2 as an oncoprotein enhancing NAD-dependent protein deacetylase sirtuin-1 deacetylase activity to regulate Wnt and Hippo pathways in non-small-cell lung cancer

BackgroundZinc finger MIZ-type containing 2 (ZMIZ2) can function as a coactivator and participate in the progression of certain malignant tumors; however, its expression and underlying molecular mechanism in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unknown. In this study, we aim to analyze the expression of ZMIZ2 and its tumorigenic function in NSCLC, identifying its related factors.MethodsZMIZ2 expression in NSCLC tissue samples and cell lines was examined using immunohistochemistry and western blotting; its biological role was investigated using in vivo and in vitro assays. The association between ZMIZ2 and NAD-dependent protein deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) was demonstrated using mass spectrometry and immunoprecipitation experiments. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway (KEGG)-based enrichment analysis, luciferase reporter assay, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT–qPCR) were conducted to verify the impact of ZMIZ2–SIRT1 combination on Hippo/Wnt pathways.ResultsZMIZ2 was highly expressed in NSCLC and positively associated with advanced pTNM staging, lymph node metastasis, and poor overall survival. Functional experiments revealed that ZMIZ2 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of lung cancer cells—establishing its role as a promoter of oncogenes. Molecular mechanism studies identified SIRT1 as an assisted key factor interacting with ZMIZ2. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that ZMIZ2 is closely related to Wnt/Hippo pathways; ZMIZ2–SIRT1 interaction enhanced SIRT1 deacetylase activity. Direct downregulation of intranuclear β-catenin and yes-associated protein (YAP) acetylation levels occurred independently of upstream proteins in Wnt/Hippo pathways; transcriptional activities of β-catenin-transcription factor 4 (TCF4) and YAP–TEA domain family transcription factors (TEADs) were amplified.ConclusionsZMIZ2 promotes the malignant phenotype of lung cancer by regulating Wnt/Hippo pathways through SIRT1, providing an experimental basis for discovering novel biomarkers and developing tumor-targeted drugs.Graphical

Hsa_circ_0087784 enhances non-small cell lung cancer progression via the miR-576-5p/CDCA4 axis

BackgroundCircular RNAs (circRNAs) belong to a family of covalently closed single-stranded RNAs that have been implicated in cancer progression. Previous studies have reported that hsa_circ_0087784 was abnormally expressed in breast cancer. However, the role of hsa_circ_0087784 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. MethodsHere, we used RT-qPCR and FISH to examine hsa_circ_0087784 expression in NSCLC cells and tissue samples. The dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to identify downstream targets of hsa_circ_0087784. Transwell migration, 5-ethynyl-2´-deoxyuridine, and CCK-8 assays were used to examine migration and proliferation. Tumorigenesis and metastasis assays were used to determine the role of hsa_circ_0087784 in NSCLC progression in a mouse tumor xenograft model in vivo. ResultsWe found that hsa_circ_0087784 was expressed at significantly high levels in NSCLC tissue samples and cell lines. Downregulation of hsa_circ_0087784 suppressed NSCLC cellular proliferation, as well as migration. Our dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-576-5p and CDCA4 were downstream targets of hsa_circ_0087784. CDCA4 overexpression or miR-576-5p suppression reversed the effects of hsa_circ_0087784 silencing on NSCLC cell migration, and EMT-related protein expression levels. ConclusionOur findings suggested that downregulation of hsa_circ_0087784 inhibited NSCLC metastasis and progression through the regulation of CDCA4 expression and miR-576-5psponging.

Metabolomic Profiling of Tumor Tissues Unveils Metabolic Shifts in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Concurrent Diabetes Mellitus.

A comprehensive understanding of the exact influence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on the metabolic status of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still lacking. This study explores metabolic alterations in tumor tissues among patients with coexisting NSCLC and T2DM in comparison with NSCLC patients. A combined approach of clinical analysis and metabolomics was employed, including 20 NSCLC patients and 20 NSCLC+T2DM patients. Targeted metabolomics analysis was performed on tumor tissues using the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) approach. A clear segregation was observed between NSCLC+T2DM and matched NSCLC tissue samples in Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discrimination Analysis (OPLS-DA). Furthermore, the levels of 7 metabolites are found to be significantly different between diabetes/nondiabetes tumor tissue samples. The related pathways included arginine biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, purine metabolism, biotin metabolism, and histidine metabolism. 3-Phenyllactic acid, carnitine-C5, carnitine-C12, and serotonin showed a positive linear correlation with fasting blood glucose levels in NSCLC patients. Uridine, pipecolic acid, cytosine, and fasting blood glucose levels were found to have a negative correlation. Our results suggest that NSCLC patients with concurrent T2DM exhibit distinct metabolic shifts in tumor tissues compared to those of solely NSCLC patients.

Circ-PITX1 promotes non-small-cell lung cancer progression through regulating ETS1 expression via miR-615-5p.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), produced by reverse splicing, act as important players in human cancers. We aimed to assess the biological functions of circRNA pituitary homeobox 1 (circ-PITX1) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). qRT-PCR was employed to determine RNA expression. Biological behaviors of NSCLC cells were assessed by CCK-8, colony formation, EdU assay, flow cytometry, wound healing, and transwell assays. Glutamine catabolism was examined via the measurement of glutamine consumption, α-ketoglutarate levels, as well as ATP levels. Protein levels were detected by western blot assays. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were performed to reveal the mechanism responsible for circ-PITX1 regulating NSCLC cell malignancy. The murine xenograft model was established to investigate circ-PITX1's effect on tumor formation. Circ-PITX1 was overexpressed in NSCLC tissue samples and cells. Its low expression repressed NSCLC cell proliferation and motility. Moreover, our data revealed its downregulation inhibited glutamine catabolism and tumor formation and promoted cell apoptosis. In addition, circ-PITX1 bound to miR-615-5p, and its inhibitory effect on tumor cellular behaviors could be reversed after decreasing miR-615-5p expression. The miRNA targeted E26 transformation specific-1 (ETS1), whose upregulation abolished miR-615-5p overexpression-induced effects in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, circ-PITX1 positively modulated ETS1 production through interaction with miR-615-5p. Circ-PITX1 facilitated NSCLC progression via modulating miR-615-5p/ETS1 pathway.

Dual analysis of IL-8 in non-small cell lung cancer: A clinical perspective on protein and RNA evaluation via imaging mass cytometry.

e15068 Background: The cytokine Interleukin-8 (IL-8) plays a pivotal role in the tumorigenesis and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), influencing both the tumor microenvironment and immune escape mechanisms. Given its significance, accurately assessing IL-8 levels at the protein and RNA levels could provide valuable insights into its prognostic value and inform therapeutic targeting strategies. This study utilizes imaging mass cytometry (IMC) to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of IL-8 expression in NSCLC, integrating both protein presence and gene expression analysis within the spatial context of the tumor microenvironment. Methods: Our approach leverages the capabilities of IMC to simultaneously detect protein and RNA levels of IL-8 in NSCLC tissue samples. For protein analysis, antibodies tagged with heavy metal isotopes specifically target IL-8, allowing for precise quantification and spatial localization within the tumor. Concurrently, RNA detection is achieved through hybridization probes designed for IL-8 mRNA, enabling the direct observation of gene expression patterns. This method provides a unique opportunity to correlate IL-8's protein abundance with its mRNA expression, offering insights into the regulatory mechanisms at play and their impact on the tumor's behavior and patient outcomes. Results: Preliminary data demonstrate a marked heterogeneity in IL-8 distribution at both the protein and RNA levels, with distinct patterns emerging that relate to tumor aggressiveness and immune infiltration. High IL-8 expression, identified through our integrated IMC approach, correlates with poor prognosis and reduced response to standard therapies, underscoring its potential as a biomarker for NSCLC management. Furthermore, the spatial analysis afforded by IMC highlights the microenvironmental niches where IL-8-mediated interactions could drive tumor progression and immune evasion. Conclusions: By employing IMC for the dual analysis of IL-8 protein and RNA in NSCLC, our study provides a comprehensive view of this cytokine's role in lung cancer pathology. The ability to visualize and quantify IL-8 expression within the spatial context of the tumor microenvironment opens new avenues for understanding its biological impact and for developing targeted therapies. Our findings advocate for the inclusion of IL-8 in the biomarker panel for NSCLC, with potential implications for patient stratification and personalized treatment planning. Future research will focus on expanding these observations to a larger cohort and exploring the therapeutic modulation of IL-8 as a strategy for improving NSCLC outcomes.

KRAS mutation subtypes responded differently to combination immunotherapy via disturbing myeloid-derived suppressor cells in non-small cell lung cancer.

8635 Background: The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chemotherapy has shown high efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, but further exploration of the predictive biomarkers is needed. KRAS is the most common driver oncogene in patients with NSCLC. However, the influence of different KRAS mutation subtypes on immunotherapy response remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate the value of KRAS mutation subtypes for predicting response to immunotherapy in NSCLC patients and to further analyze the related tumor immune microenvironment (TiME) phenotypes. Methods: In this retrospective study, clinical data were extracted from the medical records of patients with advanced NSCLC treated with ICIs and whose available molecular analysis included KRAS mutation information between January 2017 and December 2022. NSCLC tissue samples were collected for TiME analysis. Differences in immune cell subsets between different groups were analyzed using the Mann‒Whitney U test. Clinical characteristics, ICI treatment efficacy, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using multivariate Cox models. Results: A total of 1913 eligible KRAS-mutated NSCLC patients were screened, and 137 patients who received systemic immunotherapy were enrolled (108 males vs 29 females), with a median age of 62 (range, 39-84) years. Among them, 126 (92.0%) patients had adenocarcinoma, 99 (72.3%) patients were systemic therapy naïve, and 124 (90.5%) patients received combined immunotherapy. Among the patients with KRAS mutations, 48 (35.0%) had G12C, 20 (14.6%) had G12V, 27 (19.7%) had G12D and 42 (30.7%) had other subtypes. PFS was significantly longer in the G12C subgroup than in the other mutation subgroup (median PFS: 11.3 vs 6.8 months, P = 0.001). The median PFS times in the G12C/G12V subgroup and the other groups were 11.1 months and 6.5 months, respectively ( P= 0.0005). Multivariate analysis of the immunotherapy cohort revealed that G12C/G12V was an independent predictor of PFS ( P = 0.003, hazard ratio (HR): 2.021, 95% CI: 1.265-3.227). Further TiME analysis suggested that the infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs, CD33+CD11b+) in the tumor and stromal areas in the G12C/G12V subgroup was significantly lower than that in the other subgroup (tumor area, P= 0.045; stroma area, P= 0.015). However, no significant difference in PD-L1 expression was found between the G12C/G12V group and the other groups. Conclusions: KRAS G12C and G12V were associated with favorable combined ICI treatment efficacy in patients with NSCLC. Patients with G12C or G12V mutations had longer PFS and lower infiltration of MDSCs. KRAS mutation subtypes are potential predictive biomarkers disturbed by MDSCs for combination therapy in NSCLC patients.

Downregulation of lncRNA MIR17HG reduced tumorigenicity and Treg-mediated immune escape of non-small-cell lung cancer cells through targeting the miR-17-5p/RUNX3 axis.

Long noncoding RNA MIR17HG was involved with the progression of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but specific mechanisms of MIR17HG-mediated immune escape of NSCLC cells were still unknown. The present study investigated the function of MIR17HG on regulatory T cell (Treg)-mediated immune escape and the underlying mechanisms in NSCLC. Expression of MIR17HG and miR-17-5p in NSCLC tissue samples were detected using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). A549 and H1299 cells were transfected with sh-MIR17HG, miR-17-5p inhibitor, or sh-MIR17HG + miR-17-5p inhibitor, followed by cocultured with Tregs. Cell proliferation was measured using 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine (Edu) staining assay and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Flow cytometry was used for determining positive numbers of FOXP3+CD4+/CD25+/CD8+ Tregs. Through subcutaneous injection with transfected A549 cells, a xenograft nude mouse model was established. Weights and volumes of xenograft tumors were evaluated. Additionally, the expressions of immune-related factors includingtransforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-4, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in cultured cells, were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot analysis. Then, miR-17-5p was decreased and MIR17HG was enhanced in both NSCLC tissues and cell lines. MIR17HG knockdown significantly suppressed cell proliferation, tumorigenicity, and immune capacity of Tregs in A549 and H1299 cells, whereas sh-MIR17HG significantly reduced expression levels of VEGF-A, TGF-β, IL-4, and IL-10 but promoted the IFN-γ level in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, downregulation of miR-17-5p significantly reversed the effects of sh-MIR17HG. Additionally, we identified that runt- related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) was a target of miR-17-5p, and sh-MIR17HG and miR-17-5p mimics downregulated RUNX3 expression. In conclusion, downregulation of MIR17HG suppresses tumorigenicity and Treg-mediated immune escape in NSCLC through downregulating the miR-17-5p/RUNX3 axis, indicating that this axis contains potential biomarkers for NSCLC.

Abstract 4977: The prevalence of key oncogenic driver mutations in stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer: Results from the AACR GENIE BPC dataset

Abstract Background: While there is growing interest in targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in perioperative settings, data on key oncogenic driver mutations is limited in early-stage NSCLC. This real-world database study aims to evaluate the prevalence of select genomic alterations in stage I-III NSCLC. Methods: From the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE) Biopharma Collaborative (BPC) V2.1-consortium dataset, we included adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of NSCLC who had genomic testing using stage I-III NSCLC tissue samples. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize baseline characteristics and the prevalence of select genomic alterations. Results: A total of 465 patients were included in this study, of whom 61% were female, 85% were white, 19% were never smokers, and 77% had adenocarcinoma. Less than 2% of the study population had BRAF V600E, HER2 activating mutations, HER2 amplification, MET amplification, HER3 amplification, RET fusion, ALK fusion, or ROS1 fusion. Among genomic alterations with a prevalence of 2% or higher, such as EGFR sensitizing mutations, KRAS G12C, MET exon 14 skipping, STK11, KEAP1, and TP53, some variations in prevalence were observed across baseline patient and disease characteristics such as race, smoking status, and histology (Table 1). Conclusion: The prevalence of key oncogenic drivers and its relationship to select baseline disease characteristics among patients with early-stage NSCLC are similar to those of advanced NSCLC observed in other real-world clinico-genomic databases. Table 1. Prevalence of Select Genomic Alterations in Stage I-III NSCLC (N=465) Prevalence of Positive Biomarker Status (%) EGFR KRAS G12C MET Exon 14 Skipping STK11* KEAP1* TP53 Overall 17.6 12.7 4.5 16.0 11.0 52.7 Gender Male 7.1 9.3 5.5 18.5 18.5 59.6 Female 24.5 15.9 3.9 14.3 6.3 48.2 Race White 15.6 14.1 4.5 16.5 12.0 53.7 Black 15.0 5.0 5.0 22.2 11.1 60.0 Asian 44.0 4.0 8.0 8.3 4.2 44.0 Smoking Status Never smoker 41.4 1.2 6.9 4.7 1.2 36.8 Former smoker 13.7 16.0 4.6 17.4 12.9 52.4 Current smoker 5.7 12.9 1.4 23.9 15.4 72.9 Histology Adenocarcinoma 20.1 14.3 4.6 18.1 10.4 46.0 Squamous cell carcinoma 0 2.9 4.4 4.6 14.1 86.8 *The numbers of patients tested for STK11 and KEAP1 were 457 and 445, respectively. Citation Format: Ke Zu, Jiemin Ma, Cai Chen, Christine Pierce. The prevalence of key oncogenic driver mutations in stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer: Results from the AACR GENIE BPC dataset [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 4977.

Abstract 3759: First clinical evidence of the tissue nanomechanical signature as a novel diagnostic and prognostic tool in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer

Abstract Introduction: Complex structural remodelling of cells and extracellular matrix during cancer initiation and progression elicit substantial biomechanical alterations, which can be measured by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) at the nanoscale level. Clinical and translational evidence indicates that tissue nanomechanical signature (NS) can be a useful tool for rapid cancer diagnosis, and assessment of cancer aggressiveness. We demonstrated that the AFM-based Automated and Reliable Tissue Diagnostics (ARTIDIS) platform represents a valid method for rapid diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response assessment in patients with breast cancer. Here we aimed to use this platform to examine tumour biopsies from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients for the first time. Methods: This is an ongoing, single center study at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and University of Barcelona (UHB) Spain, aiming to enroll 75 patients by January 2024 in the first phase, followed by 200 patients in the expansion phase. To date, 54 matching tumor and non-tumor fresh tissue biopsies were taken by experienced pathologists from fresh surgical resection specimens from 27 patients with previously diagnosed NSCLC. Tissue biopsies were measured with the ARTIDIS device in a blinded manner, without knowing the malignancy status of the biopsy. Routine clinico-pathologic parameters have been collected. The multiparametric nanomechanical signature has been analyzed in an automated manner using the proprietary AI-based ARTIDISNET software platform together with available clinico-pathologic parameters. Results: In total, the NSCLC tissue samples included 16 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 6 Adenocarcinoma (ADC), 1 large cell carcinoma (LCC) and 4 other histological subtypes. Non-tumor tissues exhibited significantly varied composition, including normal lung parenchyma, bronchial tissues, fibrosis and inflammatory changes. Among the 27 patients, 5 patients developed distant progression within 12 months after ARTIDIS measurements. Results analysis showed that the ARTIDIS NS can reliably differentiate malignant NSCLC lesions from non-tumor lung tissue, with a sensitivity of 0.84, specificity of 0.81, positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.79, negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.86 and accuracy of 0.82. In addition, the ARTIDIS NS can differentiate patients with and without distant progression with a sensitivity of 0.62, specificity of 0.81, PPV of 0.42, NPV of 0.90 and accuracy of 0.77. Conclusions: Here we demonstrated first clinical evidence of the ARTIDIS tissue NS as a novel diagnostic and prognostic tool in patients with NSCLC. This study aims to establish the diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive NS in patients NSCLC. In addition to local expansion at the UHB, study results will be further validated in ARTIDIS clinical program at MD Anderson Cancer Centre, USA. Citation Format: Jordi Alcaraz, Héctor Sanz-Fraile, Elba Marin, Paula Gausa Busquets, Kate Neal, Marselina Arshakyan, Marc Rico, Marc Boada, David Sanchez, Reinier Oropesa Nunez, Gitika Srivastava, Ahmed Jizawi, Sara Nizzero, Tobias Appenzeller, Mariam Gachechiladze, Marko Loparic, Marija Plodinec, Noemi Reguart. First clinical evidence of the tissue nanomechanical signature as a novel diagnostic and prognostic tool in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3759.

Establishment of a 21-color Panel for the Detection of Immune Cell Subsets in Human Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Tumor Tissues with Flow Cytometry

With the rise of multicolor flow cytometry, flow cytometry has become an important means to detect the immune microenvironment of lung cancer, but most of them are used to detect the proportion of cell subsets or the function of major cell subsets, and they cannot be detected at the same time. Therefore, a reliable 21-color flow cytometry protocol was established to detect the immune cell subsets in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor tissues. Cell membrane surface antibodies cluster of differentiation (CD)45, CD3, CD19, CD4, CD8, programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), CD39, CD103, CD25, CD127, chemokine receptor 8 (CCR8), CD56, CD11c, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR, CD38, CD27, CD69, CD62L, CD45RA, CCR7 and nucleic acid dye L/D were used to develop the protocol. Firstly, antibody titration experiments, voltage optimization, subtraction of one color staining and single color staining experiments were carried out for each antibody, and after the experimental conditions and detection schemes were determined, the feasibility of the scheme was verified by using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) specimens of six healthy adult volunteers. Tumor tissue samples from 6 NSCLC patients were tested and analyzed. The established 21-color flow cytometry protocol was used to detect the tumor tissue samples of 6 NSCLC patients, and the proportion of each cell subset in lung cancer tissue, as well as the immunophenotype and differentiation of the main cell population, were analyzed. The successfully established 21-color flow cytometry protocol is suitable for the detection of PBMCs and NSCLC tissue samples, which provides an effective new idea for monitoring the immune microenvironment status in lung cancer.

IGF2BP1 facilitates non-small cell lung cancer progression by regulating the KIF2A-mediated Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BPs) are crucially implicated in the cancer progression. The current study intends to excavate and clarify the mechanisms of the key IGF2BPs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The expression of IGF2BPs and kinesin family member 2A (KIF2A) was examined using immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blot in NSCLC tissue samples or cell lines. NSCLC cell viability was examined using a cell counting kit-8 assay. Cell apoptotic rate was assessed using flow cytometry analysis. The migration and invasion of H1299 cells were subject to scratch test and Transwell assays, respectively. Starbase 2.0 was used to detect the downstream factors of the IGF2BP1 protein. The binding of IGF2BP with KIF2A was detected using RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation assays. Ki-67 immunohistochemistry assay and TUNEL assays were applied for the evaluation of proliferation and apoptosis in vivo, respectively. IGF2BP1 was upregulated in NSCLC tissue samples and cells. Functionally, IGF2BP1 overexpression promoted the proliferative ability, migration, and invasiveness of H1299 cells, while inhibiting cell apoptosis in vitro. In vivo studies revealed that overexpression of IGF2BP1 promoted tumor growth of NSCLC. Mechanistically, IGF2BP1 was involved in KIF2A mRNA stabilization. KIF2A exerted the same functions as IGF2BP1 via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In conclusion, IGF2BP1 enhances NSCLC malignant progression by stabilizing KIF2A to modulate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Thymidine kinase 1 as a target is regulated by the hsa-let-7b-5p/LINC00665 axis and affects NSCLC prognosis

BackgroundIn the past, multiple studies have offered incremental evidence that indicates that competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks are involved in tumor growth and present novel therapeutic targets. Herein, we investigated the impact of thymidine kinase 1 (TK1)-related ceRNA networks on the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MethodsTK1 expression data in NSCLC and normal tissue samples were retrieved from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and were then compared. Thereafter, the findings of the immunohistochemical staining experiments and clinical follow-up data derived from patients with NSCLC were used for conducting prognostic analysis. The starBase database was searched to determine TK1-targeted microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, and clinical data from TCGA were used for survival analysis to construct a ceRNA network associated with TK1 expression and prognosis. Finally, the roles played by methylation and immunity in the prognosis and treatment of NSCLC were analyzed. ResultsOur findings revealed that the cancer tissues expressed significantly higher TK1 levels than normal tissues, and the follow-up clinical data revealed that the prognosis was generally worse in the high-expression patients than in the low-expression patients. In addition, clinical data collected from the starBase and TCGA databases showed that the LINC00665/has-let-7b-5p/TK1 network could influence the growth and prognosis of NSCLC. It was also noted that the TK1 methylation site was correlated with the prognosis of NSCLC, and immunoprognostic analysis further indicated that patients with higher TK1 expression levels displayed a worse prognosis. ConclusionWhen the regulatory network of LINC00665/has-let-7b-5p/TK1 was assessed, it was observed that elevated TK1 levels may affect the prognosis of NSCLC. Therefore, it could be considered a prognostic biomarker and a probable therapeutic target for predicting NSCLC prognosis.

Zinc finger protein 263 upregulates interleukin 33 and suppresses autophagy to accelerate the malignant progression of non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a complex disease that remains a major public health concern worldwide. One promising avenue for NSCLC treatment is the targeting of transcription factors that regulate key pathways involved in cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the role of the transcription factor ZNF263 in NSCLC and its impact on the regulation of IL33, apoptosis, and autophagy. Levels of ZNF263 in tissues and cell lines were identified, after which the effects of its knockdown on cellular malignant behaviors, apoptosis and autophagy were assessed. Based on bioinformatics analysis, ZNF263 was found to bind to IL33 promoter, their mutual relationship was confirmed, as well as the role of IL33 in the regulation of ZNF263. The involvement of ZNF263 in the growth of xenograft tumors was assessed using tumor-bearing nude mouse models. Experimental results revealed that ZNF263 was upregulated in NSCLC tissue samples and cell lines. Its expression level is positively correlated with cellular malignant behaviors. We further demonstrated that ZNF263 upregulated IL33 expression, which, in turn, promoted the proliferation and migration, inhibited apoptosis and autophagy in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, ZNF263 knockdown reduced the growth of xenograft tumors in nude mice. This finding suggests that the inhibition of ZNF263 or IL33 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for NSCLC. Importantly, our results highlight the crucial role of transcription factors in NSCLC and their potential as therapeutic targets.

Utility of multigene panel next-generation sequencing in routine clinical practice for identifying genomic alterations in newly diagnosed metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer.

The standard of care in newly diagnosed metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is to test for aberrations in three genes for driver mutations - ALK, ROS1 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) - and also for immunohistochemistry to be performed for programmed death-ligand 1 expression level. Next-generation sequencing (NGS), with or without RNA fusion testing, is increasingly used in standard clinical practice to identify patients with potentially actionable mutations. Stratification of NGS mutation tiers is currently based on the European Society of Medical Oncology Scale for Clinical Actionability of Molecular Targets (ESCAT) Tiers I-V and X. Our aim was to analyse NSCLC tumour samples for the prevalence of Tiers I-V mutations to establish guidance for current and novel treatments in patients with metastatic disease. NGS was performed employing the Oncomine Precision Assay (without RNA fusion testing) that interrogates DNA hotspot variants across 45 genes to screen 210 NSCLC tissue samples obtained across six Sydney hospitals between June 2021 and March 2022. In our cohort, 161 of 210 (77%) had at least one gene mutation identified, with 41 of 210 (20%) having two or more concurrent mutations. Tier I mutations included 42 of 210 (20%) EGFR mutations (EIA) and five of 210 (3%) MET exon 14 skipping mutations (EIB). Non-Tier I variants included 22 of 210 (11%) KRAS G12C hotspot mutations (EIIB), with a further 47 of 210 (22%) having non-G12C KRAS (EX) mutations. NGS testing revealed an additional 15% of cases with Tier II ESCAT mutations in NSCLC. Forty-six percent of patients also demonstrated potential Tier III and IV mutations that are currently under investigation in early-phase clinical trials. In addition to identifying patients with genomic alterations suitable for clinically proven standard-of-care therapeutic options, the 45-gene NGS panel has significant potential in identifying potentially actionable non-Tier 1 mutations that may become future standard clinical practice in NSCLC.

Potential of miR-181a-5p and miR-630 as clinical biomarkers in NSCLC

BackgroundThe development of drug resistance and high mortality rates are the major problems observed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Biomarkers indicating and predicting disease development towards these unfavorable directions are therefore on high demand. Many studies have demonstrated that changes in miRNAs expression may be associated with a response to treatment and disease prognosis, thus suggesting its potential biomarker value for a broad spectrum of clinical applications. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression level of miR-181a-5p, miR-630, and its targets in NSCLC tumor tissue and plasma samples; and to analyze its association with NSCLC patient’s response to treatment and disease prognosis.MethodsThe study was performed in 89 paired tissue specimens and plasma samples obtained from NSCLC patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Department of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology of the National Cancer Institute. Analysis of miR-181a-5p and miR-630 expression was performed by qRT-PCR using TaqMan miRNA specific primers. Whereas BCL2, LMO3, PTEN, SNAI2, WIF1 expression levels were identified with KAPA SYBR FAST qPCR Kit. Each sample was examined in triplicate and calculated following the 2-ΔΔCt method. When the p-value was less than 0.05, the differences were considered statistically significant.ResultsIt was found that miR-181a-5p and miR-630 expression levels in NSCLC tissue and plasma samples were significantly decreased compared with control samples. Moreover, patients with low miR-181a-5p expression in tumor tissue and plasma had longer PFS rates than those with high miRNA expression. Decreased miR-630 expression in tumor was statistically significantly associated with better NSCLC patients’ OS. In addition, the expression of miR-181a-5p, as well as miR-630 in tumor tissue, are the statistically significant variables for NSCLC patients’ OS. Moreover, in NSCLC patient plasma samples circulating miR-181a-5p can be evaluated as significant independent prognostic factors for OS and PFS.ConclusionsOur findings indicate the miR-181a-5p and miR-630 expression levels have the potential to prognose and predict and therefore improve the treatment individualization and the outcome of NSCLC patients. Circulating miR-181a-5p has the potential clinical value as a non-invasive biomarker for NSCLC.

Inhibition of inflammation and infiltration of M2 macrophages in NSCLC through the ATF3/CSF1 axis: Role of miR-27a-3p.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) imposes a significant economic burden on patients and society due to its low overall cure and survival rates. Tumour-associated macrophages (TAM) affect tumour development and may be a novel therapeutic target for cancer. We collected NSCLC and tumour-adjacent tissue samples. Compared with the tumour-adjacent tissues, the Activation Transcription Factor 3 (ATF3) and Colony Stimulating Factor 1 (CSF-1) were increased in NSCLC tissues. Levels of ATF3 and CSF-1 were identified in different cell lines (HBE, A549, SPC-A-1, NCI-H1299 and NCI-H1795). Overexpression of ATF3 in A549 cells increased the expression of CD68, CD206 and CSF-1. Moreover, levels of CD206, CD163, IL-10 and TGF-β increased when A549 cells were co-cultured with M0 macrophages under the stimulation of CSF-1. Using the starbase online software prediction and dual-luciferase assays, we identified the targeting between miR-27a-3p and ATF3. Levels of ATF3, CSF-1, CD206, CD163, IL-10 and TGF-β decreased in the miR-27a mimics, and the tumour growth was slowed in the miR-27a mimics compared with the mimics NC group. Overall, the study suggested that miR-27a-3p might inhibit the ATF3/CFS1 axis, regulate the M2 polarization of macrophages and ultimately hinder the progress of NSCLC. This research might provide a new therapeutic strategy for NSCLC.

MiR-196b-5p activates NF-κB signaling in non-small cell lung cancer by directly targeting NFKBIA

BackgroundOur recent study found that QKI-5 regulated miRNA, miR-196b-5p, promotes non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression by directly targeting GATA6, TSPAN12 and FAS. However, the biological functions of miR-196b-5p in NSCLC progression and metastasis still remain elusive. MethodsCell proliferation, migration, colony formation, cell cycle assays were used to investigate cellular phenotypic changes. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot analyses were used to measure expressions of relative gene and protein. Interaction between QKI-5 and miR-196b-5p was determined by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Luciferase reporter assay was used to determine direct binding between miR-196b-5p and NFKBIA 3′-UTR. ELISA assay was used to measure secreted IL6 proteins. Mice xenograft model was used to assess the functions of NFKBIA on in vivo tumor growth. ResultsWe demonstrated that the miR-196b-5p facilitates lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, colony formation, and cell cycle by directly targeting NFKBIA, a negative regulator of NFκB signaling. Knocking down NFKBIA increases IL6 mediated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) to promote lung cancer cell growth by activating NFκB signaling. The expression of NFKBIA was significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissue samples, and was negatively correlated with the expression miR-196b-5p. In addition, we found that downregulated QKI-5 expression was associated with the elevated miR-224 expression in NSCLC. ConclusionsOur findings indicated that the miR-224/QKI-5/miR-196b-5p/NFKBIA signaling pathway might play important functions in the progression of NSCLC, and suggested that targeting this pathway might be an effective therapeutic strategy in treating NSCLC.

Homeobox D9 Promotes Malignant Progression of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Through Negatively Regulating Kallikrein Related Peptidase 9

We investigated the association between HOXD9 expression and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and explored its underlying mechanisms in tumor progression. HOXD9 expression was examined in 42 pairs of NSCLC tissue samples using qRT-PCR, and its effects were evaluated in NSCLC cell lines through lentiviral vector transfection, assessing cell growth and migration using CCK-8 and Transwell assays. Bioinformatics analysis identified KLK9 as a target gene of HOXD9, and their interaction was investigated in vitro and in vivo. HOXD9 mRNA expression was significantly higher in NSCLC tissues compared to adjacent tissues, positively correlating with metastasis incidence and poor prognosis. HOXD9 knockdown reduced NSCLC cell migration and proliferation, while overexpression had the opposite effect. Luciferase assays confirmed HOXD9′s binding to KLK9, leading to negative regulation of KLK9 expression. Knockdown of KLK9 reversed the inhibitory effect of HOXD9 on NSCLC cell migration and proliferation, while co-overexpression of KLK9 and HOXD9 had the opposite effect. Our findings demonstrate the close association of high HOXD9 expression in NSCLC tissues with metastasis incidence and poor prognosis. HOXD9 likely exerts its biological function in NSCLC by negatively regulating KLK9. These results provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms driving NSCLC progression, highlighting HOXD9 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.

Quantitative 3D assessment of the lung cancer microenvironment using multi-resolution open-top light-sheet microscopy.

2616 Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissue is a valuable resource for diagnosis, treatment planning, and drug development. Current 2D histopathological techniques introduce under-sampling error (i.e., a single 5 µm section represents 0.5% of a 1 mm thick biopsy), interobserver variability, and failure to capture the biology contained within the entire tissue sample. We have developed a suite of technologies to stain, chemically clarify, image, visualize, and analyze entire, intact lung tissue samples. Herein, we present analysis methods for comprehensive 3D assessment of intact NSCLC tissue. Methods: Human NSCLC tissue, stored frozen in optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound, was fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, stained with nuclear (TOPRO-3) and general protein (Eosin) fluorescent dyes, and optically cleared using a modified iDISCO protocol with ethyl cinnamate as the refractive index matching solution. Twenty tissue samples measuring 1-5 mm3 in volume were imaged at 2 µm/pixel resolution with a hybrid open-top light-sheet microscope. Smaller regions of interest (ROIs) with interesting pathologic features were re-imaged at higher resolution, 0.17 µm/pixel. Visualization and analysis was performed using Aivia software, custom spatial analysis software and python scripts. Results: All NSCLC tissue samples were successfully imaged in 3D at both low and high resolution. Computational approaches, such as machine learning, were used to segment and classify tumor cells and lymphocytes within the high resolution ROIs. In one example we quantified a 0.0045 mm3 ROI containing 1x109 voxels. We segmented 1,474 unique objects, and classified 683 (46%) of the objects as lymphocytes and 309 (20%) of the cells as tumor cells. We found that on average the lymphocytes were within 12 µm of the nearest tumor cell. Additionally the tissue was broken into separate lymphocyte dense (58% of volume) and tumor dense regions (42% of volume). Further analysis is in progress to quantify more features, such as tertiary lymphoid structures, stromal cells, and fibrosis over the full 20 sample dataset. Conclusions: We successfully implemented 3D machine learning analysis pipelines using images from intact NSCLC tissue samples measuring up to 5 mm3. The imaging was performed using our custom hybrid open-top light-sheet microscope. This novel method enables us to identify and quantify key histological features such as tumor cells and lymphocytes within the tumor microenvironment. In addition, machine learning driven algorithms clustered cells into distinct tissue regions in 3D which enables a more precise assessment of disease state and heterogeneity. Further investigation is ongoing to link these results to patient outcomes.

A differential analysis of TCR repertoire between patients with EGFR-mutant and KRAS-mutant non–small-cell lung cancer.

e21012 Background: T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire could partially represent tumor micro-environment. EGFR and KRAS are common driver genes mutated and often mutually exclusive in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). There’s a hypothesis that the immune system responds differently according to different mutations. Here we investigated the TCR features, including diversity, clonality, evenness and sequence similarity in EGFR and KRAS mutated NSCLC patients, to better understand the immune response in carcinogenesis. Methods: A total of 71 EGFR-mutant and 31 KRAS-mutant NSCLC tissue samples underwent multiplex PCR based TCR-β sequencing. TCR-β cdr3 amino acid sequences were obtained from the sequencing data using MiXCR and VDJtools. To compare TCR repertoires in EGFR-mutant and KRAS-mutant groups, each assemble CDR3 amino acid sequence was taken as a word, and each repertoire was taken as a document. Each repertoire was compared with every other one as a sample pair. TF-IDF (term frequency-inverse document frequency) document vectors was built for each sample and cosine similarity scores were computed for sample pairs. Results: The total cosine similarity score within EGFR-mutant group is 11.07 and average cosine similarity score is 0.0044±0.01, while in the KRAS-group, the total cosine similarity score is 13.41 and average cosine similarity score is 0.029±0.04. Between these two groups, the total cosine similarity score is 8.76 and average cosine similarity score is 0.0019±0.0009. See table for summary. The intergroup similarity score is significantly less than that within each group respectively (p < 1E10). Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that the TCR repertoire was clearly associated with cancer mutational profile. The mechanism of how mutations affect the immune system and shape the TCR repertoire is yet to be investigated. [Table: see text]