Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Tumor Growth Research Articles

Ampelopsis japonica enhances the effect of radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

Radiotherapy is widely used in the clinical treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, its effectiveness often proves unsatisfactory. Ampelopsis japonica (AJ) is atraditional Chinese herb with anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. However, whether AJ could enhance the effect of radiotherapy in NSCLC needs to be further explored. In vivo, BALB/c nude mice were used for axenograft tumor model to explore whether AJ could enhance the effect of radiation therapy (RT) in NSCLC. In vitro, human NSCLC cell lines HCC827 and H1299 were used to explore the effect of AJ on the cell proliferation and apoptosis of RT-treated NSCLC. Moreover, bioinformatic analysis was performed to analyze the signaling pathways regulated by AJ. Ampelopsis japonica enhanced the inhibitory effect of RT on NSCLC tumor growth in vivo. Simultaneously, AJ further enhanced the inhibitory effect of RT on NSCLC proliferation and the promoting effect of RT on NSCLC apoptosis. Bioinformatic analysis showed that AJ regulated the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. We confirmed that AJ decreased the protein levels of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Furthermore, the combination of AJ and RT suppressed activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Ampelopsis japonica augmented the inhibitory impact of RT on NSCLC cell proliferation and tumor growth by suppressing the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

ETS1 promotes cisplatin resistance of NSCLC cells by promoting GRP78 transcription.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common malignant tumor characterized by rapid growth and invasive power. Glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78) is important in cancer cell progression. Here, this study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of GRP78 on cisplatin (DDP) resistance of NSCLC cells. qRT-PCR and Western blot detected the expression of genes and proteins. Flow cytometry was used to analyze endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) induced by DDP in NSCLC. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were examined using cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), cell cloning, and flow cytometry, respectively. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (CHIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to determine the binding of ETS1 and GRP78 promoter. Mouse xenograft models were constructed for in vivo analysis. ERS was induced by DDP in NSCLC cells. GRP78 were upregulated in DDP-resistant NSCLC tissues, and knockdown of GRP78 suppressed DDP resistance, clone formation, promoted apoptosis, and inhibited ERS in DDP-resistant NSCLC cells. ETS1 knockdown repressed GRP78 expression and NSCLC tumor growth. Interestingly, ETS1 played a role in DDP-resistant NSCLC via GRP78. ETS1 inhibits cisplatin sensitivity of NSCLC cells by promoting GRP78 transcription.

O-GlcNAcylation of hexokinase 2 modulates mitochondrial dynamics and enhances the progression of lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) stands as the prevailing manifestation of lung cancer, with current therapeutic modalities linked to a dismal prognosis, necessitating further advancements. Hexokinase 2 (HK2), a critical enzyme positioned on the mitochondrial membrane, exerts control over diverse biological pathways, thereby regulating cancer. Nevertheless, the precise role and mechanism of HK2 in NSCLC remain inadequately elucidated, warranting comprehensive investigation. HK2 expression in NSCLC tissues and cell lines was detected through immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Concurrently, shRNA assays were applied to scrutinize the impact of HK2 on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion processes in NSCLC cell lines, utilizing CCK8, flow cytometry, wound-healing assay, and transwell techniques. The involvement of HK2 in mitochondrial dynamics was probed through western blot analysis, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, and assessment of ROS generation. Next, the functional role of HK2 was assessed by examining its influence on xenograft tumor growth in nude mice in vivo. Further research has demonstrated that HK2 played a role in NSCLC through its O-GlcNAcylation process. The results of the study revealed that HK2 O-GlcNAcylation promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasive characteristics of NSCLC cells, while alleviating mitochondrial damage, whereas O-GlcNAcylation inactivation yielded the opposite effect. Furthermore, in vivo experiments in nude mice illustrated that HK2 O-GlcNAcylation could stimulate tumor growth in NSCLC. These results suggested that HK2 may impact mitochondrial dynamics in NSCLC through its O-GlcNAcylation, thereby contributing to the progression of NSCLC.

Hypoxia drives estrogen receptor β-mediated cell growth via transcription activation in non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. Hypoxia conditions affect multiple cellular processes promoting the adaptation and progression of cancer cells via the activation of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) and subsequent transcription activation of their target genes. Preliminary studies have suggested that estrogen receptor β (ERβ) might play a promoting role in the progression of NSCLC. However, the precise mechanisms, particularly its connection to HIF-1α-mediated modulation under hypoxia, remain unclear. Our findings demonstrated that the overexpression of ERβ, not ERα, increased cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis in NSCLC cells and xenografts. Tissue microarray staining revealed a strong correlation between the protein expression of HIF-1α and ERβ. HIF-1α induced ERβ gene transcription and protein expression in CoCl2-induced hypoxia, 1% O2 incubation, or HIF-1α overexpressing cells. ChIP identified HIF-1α binding to a hypoxia response element in the ESR2 promoter. The suppression of HIF-1α and ERβ both in vitro and in vivo effectively reduced the tumor growth, thus emphasizing the promising prospects of targeting HIF-1α and ERβ as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of NSCLC. KEY MESSAGES: ERβ, not ERα, increases cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis in NSCLC cells and xenografts. A strong correlation exists between the protein expression of HIF-1α and ERβ. HIF-1α induced ERβ gene transcription and protein expression in hypoxic cells via binding to HRE in the ESR2 promoter. The suppression of HIF-1α and ERβ both in vitro and in vivo effectively reduced the NSCLC tumor growth.

M2 macrophage-derived lncRNA NORAD in EVs promotes NSCLC progression via miR-520g-3p/SMIM22/GALE axis

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes the majority of lung cancer cases, accounting for over 80%. RNAs in EVs play a pivotal role in various biological and pathological processes mediated by extracellular vesicle (EV). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely associated with cancer-related functions, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and drug resistance. Tumor-associated macrophages are recognized as pivotal contributors to tumorigenesis. Given these insights, this study aims to uncover the impact of lncRNA NORAD in EVs derived from M2 macrophages in NSCLC cell lines and xenograft mouse models of NSCLC. EVs were meticulously isolated and verified based on their morphology and specific biomarkers. The interaction between lncRNA NORAD and SMIM22 was investigated using immunoprecipitation. The influence of SMIM22/GALE or lncRNA NORAD in EVs on glycolysis was assessed in NSCLC cell lines. Additionally, we evaluated the effects of M2 macrophage-derived lncRNA NORAD in EVs on cell proliferation and apoptosis through colony formation and flow cytometry assays. Furthermore, the impact of M2 macrophage-derived lncRNA NORAD in EVs on tumor growth was confirmed using xenograft tumor animal models. The results underscored the potential role of M2 macrophage-derived lncRNA NORAD in EVs in NSCLC. SMIM22/GALE promoted glycolysis and the proliferation of NSCLC cells. Furthermore, lncRNA NORAD in EVs targeted SMIM22 and miR-520g-3p in NSCLC cells. Notably, lncRNA NORAD in EVs promoted the proliferation of NSCLC cells and facilitated NSCLC tumor growth through the miR-520g-3p axis. In conclusion, M2 macrophage-derived lncRNA NORAD in EVs promotes NSCLC progression through the miR-520g-3p/SMIM22/GALE axis.

Oncogenic tRNA-derived fragment tRF-Leu-CAG promotes tumorigenesis of lung cancer via targeting TCEA3 and increasing autophagy.

Lung cancer is a prevalent and severe form of malignant tumors worldwide. tRF-Leu-CAG, a recently discovered non-coding single-stranded small RNA derived from transfer RNA, has sparked interest in exploring its biological functions and potential molecular mechanisms in lung cancer. The abundance of tRF-Leu-CAG was measured via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in 96 sets of lung cancer tissue samples obtained from clinical patients. Subsequently, both in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to validate the biological functions of tRF-Leu-CAG in lung cancer. Furthermore, an exploration of the potential target genes of tRF-Leu-CAG and its association with autophagy and drug resistance in lung cancer was undertaken. Our analysis revealed a significant upregulation of tRF-Leu-CAG in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues. Additionally, we observed that heightened expression of tRF-Leu-CAG significantly augmented the proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells, facilitated cell cycle progression, and suppressed apoptosis. Furthermore, we identified transcription elongation factor A3 (TCEA3) as a direct target gene of tRF-Leu-CAG. TCEA3 inhibited the proliferation and migration of NSCLC, and tRF-Leu-CAG promoted the proliferation and migration of NSCLC by mediating the silencing of TCEA3. Moreover, we demonstrated that the augmentation of paclitaxel resistance by tRF-Leu-CAG was contingent on autophagy. Finally, tRF-Leu-CAG notably accelerated tumor growth and promoted the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vivo. tRF-Leu-CAG promotes NSCLC tumor growth and metastasis by targeting TCEA3 and promotes paclitaxel resistance by enhancing cellular autophagy. These results provide potentially effective targets and therapeutic options for the clinical treatment of NSCLC.

Hsa_circ_0023179 modulated the processes of proliferation, apoptosis, and EMT in non-small cell lung cancer cells via the miR-615-5p/CDH3 axis.

Circular RNA (circRNA) has been widely studied as a competitive endogenous RNA targeting microRNA (miRNA)/messenger RNA to regulate cancer progression. However, the regulatory mechanism of circ_0023179 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. The expression levels of circ_0023179, miR-615-5p and Cadherin 3 (CDH3) in NSCLC were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The stability of circ_0023179 was verified using ribonuclease R enzyme, actinomycin D and agarose gel electrophoresis. Colony formation and thymidine analog 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays were performed to examine proliferation changes in NSCLC cells. Western blot was used to assess the levels of CDH3 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related marker proteins to evaluate EMT. Dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and RNA pull-down assays were performed to explore the potential mechanisms of circ_0023179 in regulating NSCLC progression. Finally, the effects of circ_0023179 on NSCLC tumour growth in vivo were explored using a nude mouse subcutaneous tumour model. The results showed that the expression of circ_0023179 was remarkably higher in NSCLC tissues and cells, and it had a significant effect on NSCLC cell proliferation. Additionally, the knockdown of circ_0023179 significantly inhibited tumour growth in NSCLC mice. Mechanistically, circ_0023179 alleviated its inhibition of downstream CDH3 through the sponge-like adsorption of miR-615-5p. The downregulation of miR-615-5p and the upregulation of CDH3 mitigated the inhibitory effect of silencing circ_0023179 on NSCLC cell proliferation. In conclusion, silencing circ_0023179 inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation by targeting the miR-615-5p/CDH3 axis involved in NSCLC progression.

Cancer-associated fibroblast-derived circFARP1 modulates non-small cell lung cancer invasion and metastasis through the circFARP1/miR-338-3p/SOX4 axis.

The pleiotropic effect of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) on tumour progression depends on the environment. circFARP1 is critical for CAFs-induced gemcitabine (GEM) resistance in pancreatic cancer. Its specific role and mechanism in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been reported yet. We prepared a cancer-associated fibroblasts-conditioned medium (CAF-CM) to incubate the A549 cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect RNA levels. We detected protein expression by immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, western blot and immunofluorescence. We also detected the targeting impact between circFARP1, miR-338-3p and SRY-box transcription factor 4 (SOX4) by using dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. We determined cell proliferation, migration and invasion capabilities through Cell Counting Kit-8 and transwell assays. In addition, we measured tumour volume and weight in vivo by establishing a xenograft tumour model. CircFARP1 levels were remarkably high in the CAFs. The transfection experiments found that circFARP1 downregulation in CAFs caused migration, proliferation and invasion inhibition of CAFs and A549 cells, whereas inhibiting miR-38-3p or overexpressing SOX4 in CAFs could significantly reverse the inhibition. In vivo study in nude mice confirmed that CAFs could promote NSCLC tumour growth and knockdown of circFARP1 could inhibit tumour growth of NSCLC, whereas miR-38-3p downregulation or SOX4 overexpression could significantly reverse the inhibition. circFARP1 promotes NSCLC development by stimulating miR-338-3p/SOX4 signalling axis to regulate CAFs.

Downregulation of 4-HNE and FOXO4 collaboratively promotes NSCLC cell migration and tumor growth

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is among the most prevalent cancers and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from NSCLC play a pivotal role in lung cancer progression. Our findings reveal a direct correlation between the abundance of EVs and the transfection efficiencies. Co-culturing two different lung cancer cell lines could enhance EVs formation, cell proliferation, migration and tumorigenicity. mRNA chip and metabolic analyses revealed significant alterations in the FOXO signaling pathway and unsaturated fatty acid metabolism within tumor tissues derived from co-cultured cells. Shotgun lipidomics studies and bioinformatics analyses guided our attention towards 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and FOXO4. Elevating 4-HNE or FOXO4 levels could reduce the formation of EVs and impede cell growth and migration. While silencing FOXO4 expression lead to an increase in cell cloning rate and enhanced migration. These findings suggest that regulating the production of 4-HNE and FOXO4 might provide an effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of NSCLC.

Tetrandrine activates STING/TBK1/IRF3 pathway to potentiate anti-PD-1 immunotherapy efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer

The efficacy of PD-1 therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients remains unsatisfactory. Activating the STING pathway is a promising strategy to improve PD-1 inhibitor efficacy. Here, we found tetrandrine (TET), an anti-tumor compound extracted from a medicinal plant commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, has the ability to inhibit NSCLC tumor growth. Mechanistically, TET induces nuclear DNA damage and increases cytosolic dsDNA, thereby activating the STING/TBK1/IRF3 pathway, which in turn promotes the tumor infiltration of dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, as well as CD8+ T cells in mice. In vivo imaging dynamically monitored the increased activity of the STING pathway after TET treatment and predicted the activation of the tumor immune microenvironment. We further revealed that the combination of TET with αPD-1 monoclonal antibody (αPD-1 mAb) yields significant anti-cancer effects by promoting CD8+ T cell infiltration and enhancing its cell-killing effect, which in turn reduced the growth of tumors and prolonged survival of NSCLC mice. Therefore, TET effectively eliminates NSCLC cells and enhances immunotherapy efficacy through the activation of the STING pathway, and combining TET with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy deserves further exploration for applications.

EIF4A3-Induced CircDHTKD1 regulates glycolysis in non-small cell lung cancer via stabilizing PFKL.

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the malignancies with the highest incidence and mortality in the world, approximately 85% of which is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) exert multiple roles in NSCLC occurrence and development. The sequencing results in previous literature have illustrated that multiple circRNAs exhibit upregulation in NSCLC. We attempted to figure out which circRNA exerts an oncogenic role in NSLCL progression. RT-qPCR evaluated circDHTKD1 level in NSCLC tissue specimens and cells. Reverse transcription as well as RNase R digestion assay evaluated circDHTKD1 circular characterization in NSCLC cells. FISH determined circDHTKD1 subcellular distribution in NSCLC cells. Loss- and gain-of-function assays clarified circDHTKD1 role in NSCLC cell growth, tumour growth and glycolysis. Bioinformatics and RIP and RNA pull-down assessed association of circDHTKD1 with upstream molecule Eukaryotic initiation factor 4A-III (EIF4A3) or downstream molecule phosphofructokinase-1 liver type (PFKL) and insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) in NSCLC cells. Rescue assays assessed regulatory function of PFKL in circDHTKD1-meidated NSCLC cellular phenotypes. CircDHTKD1 exhibited upregulation and stable circular nature in NSCLC cells. EIF4A3 upregulated circDHTKD1 in NSCLC cells. CircDHTKD1 exerted a promoting influence on NSCLC cell malignant phenotypes and tumour growth. CircDHTKD1 exerted a promoting influence on NSCLC glucose metabolism. CircDHTKD1 exerts a promoting influence on NSCLC glucose metabolism through PFKL upregulation. RIP and RNA pull-down showed that circDHTKD1 could bind to IGF2BP, PFKL could bind to IGF2BP2, and circDHTKD1 promoted the binding of PFKL to IGF2BP2. In addition, RT-qPCR showed that IGF2BP2 knockdown promoted PFKL mRNA degradation, suggesting that IGF2BP2 stabilized PFKL in NSCLC cells. CircDHTKD1 exhibits upregulation in NSCLC. We innovatively validate that EIF4A3-triggered circDHTKD1 upregulation facilitates NSCLC glycolysis through recruiting m6A reader IGF2BP2 to stabilize PFKL, which may provide a new direction for seeking targeted therapy plans of NSCLC.

Curcumin Inhibits the Progression of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer by Regulating DMRT3/SLC7A11 Axis.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a fatal malignancy all over the world. Emerging studies have shownthat curcumin might repress NSCLC progression by regulating ferroptosis, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. 16HBE, LK-2, and H1650 cell viability was detected using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. LK-2 and H1650 cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiopoiesis were measured using 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, flow cytometry, and tube formation assay. Superoxide dismutase, Malondialdehyde, Glutathione, and lactate dehydrogenase levels in LK-2 and H1650 cells were examined using special assay kits. Fe+ level was assessed using an iron assay kit. Doublesex and Mab-3 related Transcription Factor 3 (DMRT3) and solutecarrierfamily7member11(SLC7A11) protein levels were detected using western in NSCLC tissues, adjacent matched normal tissues, 16HBE cells, LK-2 cells, H1650 cells, and xenograft tumor tissues. Glutathione peroxidase 4, Acyl-CoA Synthetase Long Chain Family Member 4, and transferrinreceptor1 protein levels in LK-2 and H1650 cells were examined by western blot assay. DMRT3 and SLC7A11 levels were determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. After JASPAR prediction, binding between DMRT3 and SLC7A11 promoter was verified using Chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays in LK-2 and H1650 cells. Role of curcumin on NSCLC tumor growth was assessed using the xenograft tumor model in vivo. Curcumin blocked NSCLC cell proliferation and angiopoiesis, and induced apoptosis and ferroptosis. DMRT3 or SLC7A11 upregulation partly abolished the suppressive role of curcumin on NSCLC development. In mechanism, DMRT3 was a transcription factor of SLC7A11 and increased the transcription of SLC7A11 via binding to its promoter region. Curcumin inhibited NSCLC growth in vivo by modulating DMRT3. Curcumin might constrain NSCLC cell malignant phenotypes partly through the DMRT3/SLC7A11 axis, providing a promising therapeutic strategy for NSCLC.

CircPDK1 competitively binds miR-4731-5p to mediate GIGYF1 expression and increase paclitaxel sensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer

ObjectiveTo investigate the action of circPDK1 in paclitaxel (PTX) resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodscircPDK1, miR-4731-5p, and GIGYF1 levels were determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 and colony formation assay, apoptosis by flow cytometry, invasion by Transwell assay. The targeting relationship between miR-4731-5p and circPDK1 or GIGYF1 was confirmed by dual luciferase reporter gene and RIP assay. A xenograft tumor model was established to determine the role of circPDK1 in PTX resistance.ResultscircPDK1 was overexpressed in PTX-resistant NSCLC, and depleting circPDK1 hampered proliferation and invasion of PTX-resistant cells, activated apoptosis, and improved PTX sensitivity. circPDK1 bound to miR-4731-5p, and increasing miR-4731-5p expression salvaged the effect of circPDK1 depletion on PTX resistance. miR-4731-5p directly targeted GIGYF1, and upregulating GIGYF1 offset the promoting effect of circPDK1 knockdown on PTX sensitivity. NSCLC tumor growth was inhibited and PTX sensitivity improved when circPDK1 was suppressed.ConclusionDepleting circPDK1 promotes PTX sensitivity of NSCLC cells via miR-4731-5p/GIGYF1 axis, thereby inhibiting NSCLC pregnancy.

MAPK4 facilitates angiogenesis by inhibiting the ERK pathway in non-small cell lung cancer.

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the occurrence and development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The atypical mitogen-activated protein kinase 4 (MAPK4) has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. However, the potential role of MAPK4 in the tumor angiogenesis of NSCLC remains unclear. Adult male C57BL/6 wild-type mice were randomly divided into the control group and p-siMAPK4 intervention group, respectively. The cell proliferation was analyzed withflow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. The vascular density in tumor mass was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. The expressions of MAPK4 and related signaling molecules were detected by western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining, and so on. We found that the expression of MAPK4, which was dominantly expressed in local endothelial cells (ECs), was correlated with tumor angiogenesis of NSCLC. Furthermore, MAPK4 silencing inhibited the proliferation and migration abilities of human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs). Global gene analysis showed that MAPK4 silencing altered the expression of multiple genes related to cell cycle and angiogenesis pathways, and that MAPK4 silencing increased transduction of the extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathwaybut not Akt and c-Jun n-terminal kinase pathways. Further analysis showed that MAPK4 silencing inhibited the proliferation and migration abilities of HUVECs cultured in tumor cell supernatant, which was accompanied with increased transduction of the ERK1/2 pathway. Clinical data analysis suggested that the higher expression of MAPK4 and CD34 were associated with poor prognosis ofpatients with NSCLC. Targeted silencing of MAPK4 in ECs using small interfering RNA driven by the CD34 promoter effectively inhibited tumor angiogenesis and growth of NSCLC in vivo. Our results reveal that MAPK4 plays an important role in the angiogenesis and development of NSCLC. MAPK4 may thus represent a new target for NSCLC.

Hedgehog ligand and receptor cooperatively regulate EGFR stability and activity in non-small cell lung cancer.

The hyperactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a crucial role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Hedgehog (Hh) signaling has been implicated in the tumorigenesis and progression of various cancers, however, its function in NSCLC cells remains controversial. Herein, we present a novel finding that challenges the current understanding of Hh signaling in tumor growth. Expression of Hh ligands and receptor were assessed using TCGA datasets, immunoblotting and immunohistochemical. Biological function of Hh ligands and receptor in NSCLC were tested using colony formation, cell count kit-8 (CCK-8) and xenograft assays. Biochemical effect of Hh ligands and receptor on regulating EGFR stability and activity were checked via immunoblotting. Expression of Hh ligands and receptor was suppressed in NSCLC tissues, and the lower expression levels of these genes were associated with poor prognosis. Ptch1 binds to EGFR and facilitates its poly-ubiquitylation and degradation independent of downstream transcriptional signaling. Moreover, Hh ligands cooperate with Ptch1 to regulate the protein stability and activity of EGFR. This unique mechanism leads to a suppressive effect on NSCLC tumor growth. Non-canonical Hh signaling pathway, involving cooperation between Hh ligands and their receptor Ptch1, facilitates the degradation of EGFR and attenuates its activity in NSCLC. These findings provide novel insights into the regulation of EGFR protein stability and activity, offer new diagnostic indicators for molecular typing of NSCLC and identify potential targets for targeted therapy of this challenging disease.

Abstract 4687: Primary study on the anticancer role of BAM15 in lung cancer cells

Abstract Background: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 80-85% of all lung cancer cases. BAM15, a mitochondrial uncoupler, is a potential therapeutic agent for many diseases, including obesity, diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Sepsis and cancers. However, there is no report on the anti-tumor role of BAM15 in NSCLC. Methods: To investigate the direct anti-cancer effects of BAM15 in NSCLC, we examined its inhibitory role on cell proliferation of NSCLC cells using the Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK8), colony forming assays and EdU staining assays. The impact of BAM15 on the cell cycle and cell apoptosis of NSCLC cells was analyzed by flow cytometric. A xenotransplanted NSCLC model in mice were used to test the anticancer role of BAM15. Result: Using the CCK8 assay, we found that the inhibitory role of BAM15 on the proliferation and colony formation of NSCLC cells is dose-dependent. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for cell proliferation were 2.71, 4.74, and 9.50 μM for A549, PC9, and H1299 NSCLC cells, respectively. The EdU staining assay demonstrated that BAM15 treatment significantly inhibited DNA synthesis in NSCLC cells. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that BAM15 arrested cell cycle at G2 phase in NSCLC cells and caused a striking increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells in NSCLC cells. The xenotransplanted NSCLC experiment indicated that BAM15 could significantly suppressed the growth of NSCLC tumors compared with the control tumors. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that BAM15 significantly inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in NSCLC cells, indicating that BAM15 is a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of NSCLC. Citation Format: Mei-yin Zhang, Yue-Ning Wang, Yu-Feng Zhou, Shuo-Cheng Wang, Shi-Juan Mai, Hui-Yun Wang. Primary study on the anticancer role of BAM15 in lung cancer cells [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 4687.

Abstract 3916: TNG260, a small molecule CoREST inhibitor, sensitizes STK11-mutant NSCLC to anti-PD1 immunotherapy

Abstract Loss of function (LOF) of the serine-threonine kinase STK11/LKB1, which has been reported in ~15% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), drives resistance to immune checkpoint therapies such as PD1. In vivo CRISPR screens in tumor-bearing immune competent mice identified the Corepressor of Repressor Element 1 Silencing Transcription (CoREST) complex as a synthetic lethal immune evasion target for STK11- mutant tumors. Here, we demonstrate that TNG260, a small molecule drug specifically targeting the CoREST complex, can sensitize STK11 mutant lung cancers to anti-PD1 immunotherapy. Combination treatment with TNG260 and anti-PD1 arrested KRAS/STK11 mutant NSCLC tumor growth with no major toxicity observed, as confirmed in both allograft and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) of STK11 mutant NSCLC. Further transcriptional analysis via bulk RNA-seq revealed that treatment of KRAS/STK11 mutant lung tumors with TNG260 promotes genes related to inflammatory responses and suppresses genes related to cell cycle and mitotic checkpoint(s). This phenotype was not observed in STK11 wildtype KRAS/P53 mutant lung tumors. Furthermore, combinational treatment of TNG260 with PD1 antibody showed increased macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells signatures in vivo. Our data suggests that epigenetic reprogramming via TNG260 sensitizes STK11 mutant NSCLC tumors to anti- PD1 treatment via targeting of the CoREST complex. This work identifies new vulnerabilities in STK11 LOF cancers that can be exploited therapeutically. TNG260 is currently being investigated in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of STK11-mutant cancer (NCT05887492), including NSCLC. Citation Format: Ayushi Patel, Soumyadip Sahu, Ke Geng, Salman Punekar, Janaye Stephens, Jiehui Deng, Ting Chen, Leanne Ahronian, Minjie Zhang, Jannik Andersen, Brian Haines, Kwok-Kin Wong. TNG260, a small molecule CoREST inhibitor, sensitizes STK11-mutant NSCLC to anti-PD1 immunotherapy [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 3916.

METTL3-mediated the m6A modification of SF3B4 facilitates the development of non-small cell lung cancer by enhancing LSM4 expression.

Splicing factor B subunit 4 (SF3B4) has been confirmed to participate in the progression of many cancers and is considered to be a potential target for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thus, the role and molecular mechanism of SF3B4 in NSCLC progression deserves further study. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were employed to detect the mRNA and protein levels of SF3B4, Sm-like protein 4 (LSM4) and methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3). Cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration and stemness were tested by cell counting kit-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, transwell, wound healing, and sphere formation assays. The interaction between SF3B4 and METTL3 or LSM4 was confirmed by MeRIP, RIP and Co-IP assays. Mice xenograft models were constructed to assess the effects of METTL3 and SF3B4 on NSCLC tumorigenesis. SF3B4 had high expression in NSCLC tissues and was associated with the shorter overall survival of NSCLC patients. Knockdown of SF3B4 suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion, migration and stemness, while inducing apoptosis. METTL3 promoted SF3B4 mRNA stability by m6A modification, and its knockdown inhibited NSCLC cell growth, metastasis and stemness by downregulating SF3B4. SF3B4 could interact with LSM4, and sh-SF3B4-mediated the inhibition on NSCLC cell functions could be reversed by LSM4 overexpression. In addition, reduced METTL3 expression restrained NSCLC tumor growth, and this effect was reversed by SF3B4 overexpression. METTL3-stablized SF3B4 promoted NSCLC cell growth, metastasis and stemness via positively regulating LSM4.

CircNOX4 activates an inflammatory fibroblast niche to promote tumor growth and metastasis in NSCLC via FAP/IL-6 axis

BackgroundCancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) orchestrate a supportive niche that fuels cancer metastatic development in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Due to the heterogeneity and plasticity of CAFs, manipulating the activated phenotype of fibroblasts is a promising strategy for cancer therapy. However, the underlying mechanisms of fibroblast activation and phenotype switching that drive metastasis remain elusive.MethodsThe clinical implications of fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-positive CAFs (FAP+CAFs) were evaluated based on tumor specimens from NSCLC patients and bioinformatic analysis of online databases. CAF-specific circular RNAs (circRNAs) were screened by circRNA microarrays of primary human CAFs and matched normal fibroblasts (NFs). Survival analyses were performed to assess the prognostic value of circNOX4 in NSCLC clinical samples. The biological effects of circNOX4 were investigated by gain- and loss-of-function experiments in vitro and in vivo. Fluorescence in situ hybridization, luciferase reporter assays, RNA immunoprecipitation, and miRNA rescue experiments were conducted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of fibroblast activation. Cytokine antibody array, transwell coculture system, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed to investigate the downstream effectors that promote cancer metastasis.ResultsFAP+CAFs were significantly enriched in metastatic cancer samples, and their higher abundance was correlated with the worse overall survival in NSCLC patients. A novel CAF-specific circRNA, circNOX4 (hsa_circ_0023988), evoked the phenotypic transition from NFs into CAFs and promoted the migration and invasion of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, circNOX4 correlated with the poor prognosis of advanced NSCLC patients. Mechanistically, circNOX4 upregulated FAP by sponging miR-329-5p, which led to fibroblast activation. Furthermore, the circNOX4/miR-329-5p/FAP axis activated an inflammatory fibroblast niche by preferentially inducing interleukin-6 (IL-6) and eventually promoting NSCLC progression. Disruption of the intercellular circNOX4/IL-6 axis significantly suppressed tumor growth and metastatic colonization in vivo.ConclusionsOur study reveals a role of the circRNA-induced fibroblast niche in tumor metastasis and highlights that targeting the circNOX4/FAP/IL-6 axis is a promising strategy for the intervention of NSCLC metastasis.

Mebendazole induces apoptosis and inhibits migration via the reactive oxygen species-mediated STAT3 signaling downregulation in non-small cell lung cancer.

The incidence and mortality of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are extremely high. Previous research has confirmed that the signal transducer and activator of the transcription 3 (STAT3) protein critically participate in the tumorigenesis of NSCLC. Mebendazole (MBZ) has exerts a larger number of pharmacological activities and has anticancer effects in lung cancer, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. This study thus aimed to clarify the impacts of MBZ on NSCLC cell. Cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were investigated via cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay, Transwell assay, colony formation assay, wound-healing assay, and flow cytometry. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected with a multifunctional microplate reader. Markers of cell migration and apoptosis were detected with Western blotting. The transcriptional activity of STAT3 was detected via luciferase assay. ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was used to determine the effect of MBZ on NSCLC via ROS-regulated STAT3 inactivation and apoptosis. A xenograft model was constructed in vivo to investigate the role of MBZ in NSCLC tumor growth. The findings demonstrated that MBZ inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation and migration while promoting apoptosis through triggering ROS generation. In addition, the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)-STAT3 signaling pathway was abrogated with the treatment of MBZ. NAC could distinctly weaken MBZ-induced apoptosis and STAT3 inactivation. Moreover, MBZ inhibited the tumor growth of NSCLC in vivo. In summary, MBZ inhibited NSCLC cell viability and migration by inducing cell apoptosis via the ROS-JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway. These data provide a theoretical basis for the use of MBZ in treating NSCLC.