Role In Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Research Articles

SIRT1 silencing ameliorates malignancy of non-small cell lung cancer via activating FOXO1

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), being the most prevalent and lethal malignancy affecting the lungs, poses a significant threat to human health. This research aims at illustrating the precise role and related mechanisms of silent information regulator type-1 (SIRT1) in NSCLC progression. The expression pattern of SIRT1 in NSCLC cell lines was examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Functional assays in NSCLC cell lines validated the biological capabilities of SIRT1 on malignant phenotypes, and its impact on tumorigenicity was further evaluated in vivo. In addition, the FOXO1 inhibitor AS1842856 was applied to verify the role of SIRT1 on FOXO pathway in vitro. SIRT1 expression was prominently elevated in NSCLC cell lines. The depletion of SIRT1 retarded the capabilities of proliferation, migration and invasion, while enhancing apoptosis in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, SIRT1 silencing restricted the tumorigenesis of NSCLC in vivo. Additionally, AS1842856 treatment ameliorated the inhibitory effect of SIRT1 deficiency on malignant phenotypes in NSCLC cells. SIRT1 deletion exerted an anti-oncogenic role in NSCLC via activation of FOXO1.

Unveiling the Role of HGF/c-Met Signaling in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Tumor Microenvironment.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is characterized by several molecular alterations that contribute to its development and progression. These alterations include the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-MET). Among these, the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-MET signaling pathway plays a crucial role in NSCLC. In spite of this, the involvement of the HGF/c-MET signaling axis in remodeling the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains relatively unexplored. This review explores the biological functions of the HGF/c-MET signaling pathway in both normal and cancerous cells, examining its multifaceted roles in the NSCLC tumor microenvironment, including tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. Furthermore, we summarize the current progress and clinical applications of MET-targeted therapies in NSCLC and discuss future research directions, such as the development of novel MET inhibitors and the potential of combination immunotherapy.

Auriculasin induces mitochondrial oxidative stress and drives ferroptosis by inhibiting PI3K/Akt pathway in non-smallcelllungcancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority of cases of lung cancer with poor outcomes. Auriculasin is a prenylated isoflavone abundant in the root of F. philippinensis with multiple pharmacological effects, including anticancer role. However, its roles in NSCLC remain largely unknown. NSCLC A549 cells were treated with auriculasin in vitro, and used to induce xenograft models. Cell viability was detected via CCK-8 assay. Mitochondrial oxidative stress was analyzed by JC-1 staining, ROS staining, and levels of MDA, SOD and GSH. Ferroptosis was assessed via iron content, and levels of ACSL4, PTGS2, FSP1 and GPX4. The phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt were measured by western blot. Auriculasin reduced NSCLC cell viability. Auriculasin promoted mitochondrial oxidative stress by reducing mitochondrial membrane potential, SOD and GSH levels, and enhancing ROS and MDA contents. In addition, auriculasin induced ferroptosis via increasing iron, ACSL4 and PTGS3 levels, and decreasing FSP1 and GPX4 levels. Furthermore, the potential targets of auriculasin in NSCLC were enriched in PI3K/Akt signaling. Auriculasin blunted PI3K/Akt pathway activation by blocking the phosphorylation. Activated PI3K/Akt signaling by activator 740Y-P reversed the effects of auriculasin on mitochondrial oxidative stress and ferroptosis. Finally, auriculasin reduced NSCLC cell growth in xenograft models. Auriculasin facilitates mitochondrial oxidative stress and induces ferroptosis through inhibiting PI3K/Akt pathway in NSCLC.

Circular RNA NFIX Functions as an Oncogene in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Modulating the miR-214-3p/TRIAP1 Axis.

circRNA NFIX has been shown to exist as an oncogene in glioma. But its expression and role in NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) are still unclear. This research aimed to discover the expression and function of circRNA NFIX in NSCLC. In this research, qRT-PCR was utilized to investigate the expression levels of circRNA NFIX, miRNA-214-3p, and TRIAP1 in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. The binding sites between circRNA NFIX/TRIAP1 and miRNA-214-3p were predicted using the Starbase. These interactions were further validated using a double luciferase reporter assay. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed through MTT and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was measured by western blot assay. miRNA-214-3p could link with circRNA NFIX. circRNA NFIX was upregulated, while miRNA-214-3p was downregulated in NSCLC cell lines and clinical samples. Besides, suppression of circRNA NFIX repressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in NSCLC cells by upregulating miRNA-214-3p expression. Besides, the data indicated that TRIAP1 was a target of miRNA-214-3p, and it was negatively regulated by miRNA-214-3p in NSCLC cells. The excessive expression of miRNA-214-3p suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. In addition, overexpression of TRIAP1 significantly reversed the effects on NSCLC cells caused by miRNA-214-3p mimic. circRNA NFIX silencing repressed the proliferation of NSCLC cells and induced cell apoptosis by regulating the miR-214-3p/TRIAP1 axis, which was a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Adiponectin Receptor Agonist AdipoRon Inhibits Proliferation and Drives Glycolytic Dependence in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

Despite the countless therapeutic advances achieved over the years, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. To this primacy contribute both non-oncogene addicted and advanced NSCLCs, in which conventional therapies are only partially effective. The adiponectin receptor agonist AdipoRon has revealed antiproliferative action in different cancers, including osteosarcoma and pancreatic cancer. Herein, we investigated its potential anticancer role in NSCLC for the first time. We proved that AdipoRon strongly inhibits viability, growth and colony formation in H1299 and A549 NSCLC cells, mainly through a slowdown in cell cycle progression. Along with the biological behaviors, a metabolic switching was observed after AdipoRon administration in NSCLC cells, consisting of higher glucose consumption and lactate accumulation. Remarkably, both 2-Deoxy Glucose and Oxamate glycolytic-interfering agents greatly enhanced AdipoRon's antiproliferative features. As a master regulator of cell metabolism, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was activated by AdipoRon. Notably, the ablation of AdipoRon-induced AMPK phosphorylation by Compound-C significantly counteracted its effectiveness. However, the engagement of other pathways should be investigated afterwards. With a focus on NSCLC, our findings further support the ability of AdipoRon in acting as an anticancer molecule, driving its endorsement as a future candidate in NSCLC therapy.

METTL14 plays an oncogenic role in NSCLC by modulating ferroptosis and the m6A modification of GPX4

Context N6-methyladenosine (m6A) of RNA is involved in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Objective This study investigated the role of METTL14 in NSCLC and the mechanism. Materials and methods Expression levels were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA assays. Cells viability was assessed by cell counting kit-8. M6A methylation was analysed by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP), RIP, luciferase assay, and mRNA stability assay. Results The results showed that METTL14 was highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of METTL14 inhibited the cell viability while induced ferroptosis of NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, METTL14 interacts with GPX4, mediates m6A modification of GPX4, enhances its mRNA stability, and upregulates its expression. In addition, IGF2BP1 recognises the m6A-methylated GPX4 and mediates the elevated mRNA stability. Moreover, GPX4 reversed the effects of METTL14 depletion. Discussion and conclusion The METTL14/GPX4 axis promotes NSCLC progression by inhibiting cell ferroptosis through the recognition of m6A modification mediated by IGF2BP1.

WITHDRAWN: Circular RNA CircRNA-0000520 promotes non-small cell lung cancer progression through sponging microRNA-521

The non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85 % of all lung cancers. This study investigated how the circular RNA (circRNA)-0000520 affected NSCLC and the underlying mechanisms, providing potential target for developing effective treatments of NSCLC. Firstly, circRNA-0000520 expression in tissues and cells were explored by the GEO2R online tool analyzing the public dataset obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). CircRNA-0000520 was upregulated in NSCLC (P < 0.05). Knockdown of circRNA-0000520 decreased the proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells, while increased the apoptosis and G0/G1 arrest of NSCLC cells (P < 0.05). Next, the downstream miRNAs of circRNA-0000520 were detected. By using RT-qPCR, the miR-521 was found to be downregulated in both NSCLC tissues and cell lines. And circRNA-0000520 knockdown obviously led to an increase of miR-521 in NSCLC cells. Circinteractome database was used to predict the binding sites of miR-521 in circRNA-0000520. And the interaction between circRNA-0000520 and miR-521 were verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation verified the interaction between circRNA-0000520 and miR-521. Furthermore, miR-521 depletion reversed the decreased levels of proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells, and the increased levels of apoptosis and G0/G1 arrest of NSCLC cells (P < 0.05) induced by circRNA-0000520 knockdown. In general, this study further verified that circRNA-0000520 played oncogenic roles in NSCLC and promoted the malignant behavior of NSCLC, and firstly proved that circRNA-0000520 acted as a sponge of miR-521, suggesting the potential of circRNA-0000520/miR-521 axis as the promising therapeutic targets for patients with NSCLC.

Expression profiles of serum transfer RNA-derived fragments and their potential roles in non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the malignant tumors with the highest morbidity and mortality in the world. Early diagnosis can significantly improve the prognosis of patients. Transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived fragments (tRFs) have been found to have a crucial function in the pathophysiology of cancers. However, the role of tRFs/tRNA halves (tiRNAs) in NSCLC is yet unknown. The present study aimed to investigate unique expression profiles of tRFs/tiRNAs in NSCLC and search novel biomarkers for the diagnosis. RNA-sequencing was utilized for determining differently expressed tRFs/tiRNAs in serum in NSCLC and healthy controls. Stem-loop quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to confirm the selected tRFs/tiRNAs expressions. Their possible roles in NSCLC were predicted using bioinformatic research. Eleven up-regulated tRFs/tiRNAs and 18 down-regulated tRFs/tiRNAs were determined. Levels of tRF-31-87R8WP9N1EWJ0 and tRF-31-79MP9P9NH57SD were significantly higher in NSCLC serum samples than those of healthy controls; the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve suggested that they could serve as new diagnostic biomarkers. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis hinted that tRF-31-87R8WP9N1EWJ0 and tRF-31-79MP9P9NH57SD might influence the development and manifestation of NSCLC. In NSCLC patients' serum, the tRFs/tiRNAs were abnormally regulated and that tRF-31-87R8WP9N1EWJ0 and tRF-31-79MP9P9NH57SD might be the potential biological markers for NSCLC.

CircPDSS1 (hsa_circ_0017998) silencing induces ferroptosis in non-small-cell lung cancer cells by modulating the miR-137/SLC7A11/GPX4/GCLC axis

BackgroundCircular RNAs (circRNAs) regulate the tumorigenesis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). CircPDSS1 (hsa_circ_0017998) has been newly discovered, and its role in NSCLC remains elusive. We aimed to investigate the functional roles and downstream targets of circPDSS1 in NSCLC cells. Materials and methodsCellular viabilities were measured through the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, whereas cell death was assessed through flow cytometry. The lactate dehydrogenase activity, malondialdehyde levels, ferrous iron, and reactive oxygen species were measured using commercial assay kits. The interaction between circPDSSA/ microRNA-137 (miR-137) and miR-137/solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) was assayed through a dual luciferase activity assay. Finally, the mRNA and protein levels were measured using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and western blots, respectively. ResultsCircPDSS1 expression was upregulated in NSCLC cells, compared with healthy lung cells. CircPDSS1 silencing suppressed the viability of NSCLC cells. Additionally, circPDSS1 knockdown induced ferroptosis rather than other types of cell death in NSCLC cells. Mechanically, circPDSS1 functions as a “sponge” to inversely control miR-137 expression, which directly targets SLC7A11. Moreover, circPDSS1 silencing causes the downregulation of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC). ConclusionsTargeting the circPDSS1/miR-137/SLC7A11/GPX4/GCLC axis may be a promising strategy to kill NSCLC cells.

Physical activity (PA) impact on metabolome and immunity of oncogene addicted non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): The EXcellenT trial.

e20582 Background: Today patients (pts) with oncogene addicted advanced NSCLC receive molecular targeted therapies as first-line treatment ensuring high compliance to therapy, few side effects and long survival time. These pts are usually young and with a strong wish to regain the pre-diagnosis quality of life (QoL), including the ability to perform PA. It’s known that PA can impact significantly on metabolomic and immunity status, but to date only few studies on its role in NSCLC have been performed. The aim of the EXcellenT trial is to evaluate if a tailored PA program may have an impact on QoL and performances of this homogeneous subgroup of pts. An exploratory objective was to explore the complex interplay between PA and immune status and the influence of PA on metabolome. Methods: EXcellenT (Exercise in Extended oncogene addicted Lung Cancer in Active Treatment - NCT05306652) is an Italian monocentric prospective study enrolling 40 pts with oncogene-addicted advanced NSCLC in active treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Pts are randomized in 2 arms: an interventional arm of a personalized supervised PA program or a counselling group of home-based exercise. We explored peripheral variations of T cells subsets during TKI treatment combined with exercise training to better define the immuno-dependence of these tumors. Fatty acid composition (FA) of plasma has been carried out using gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Immature and mature neutrophils, monocytes, CD34+ cells and megakaryocytes (MK) precursors have been determined through flow cytometry analysis. Results: A preliminary exploratory analysis on the first patients enrolled with 3 complete time point (baseline; week 4 and 12) was performed. To date 23 out of 40 pts have been enrolled, 46% of them with pre-diagnosis leisure-time physical activity. The oncogene identified are: ALK 52%, EGFR 26%, BRAF 9%, RET 4%, ROS1 9%. 35% had stable brain metastasis (mts) and 39% bone mts not at risk of skeletal-related events. FA analysis (4 pts) showed significant increase of monounsaturated fatty acids (p = 0.0329) during the study. According to immunophenotype, we observed (3 pts) a significant reduction of CD34+ cancer stem cell (p 0.0112) and a consistent increase in mature CD66b+CD10+ neutrophils with a trend of decrease in CD66b+CD10- cells. Conclusions: The ExcellenT trial is showing that PA programs are feasible and well accepted by patients with oncogene-addicted NSCLC. The QoL analysis will be performed at the end of enrolment. The preliminary analysis on metabolomic and immunity status shows an improvement of fatty acid composition and an increase of mature cell precursors compared to immature counterpart suggesting a potential role of PA in hindering tumor immune escape strategies. Clinical trial information: NCT05306652 .

Circ_PPAPDC1A promotes Osimertinib resistance by sponging the miR-30a-3p/ IGF1R pathway in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

BackgroundRecent evidence has demonstrated that abnormal expression and regulation of circular RNA (circRNAs) are involved in the occurrence and development of a variety of tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of circ_PPAPDC1A in Osimertinib resistance in NSCLC.MethodsHuman circRNAs microarray analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs in Osimertinib-acquired resistance tissues of NSCLC. The effect of circ_PPAPDC1A on cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis was assessed in both in vitro and in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, RT-qPCR, Western-blot, and rescue assay were employed to confirm the interaction between circ_PPAPDC1A/miR-30a-3p/IGF1R axis.ResultsThe results revealed that circ_PPAPDC1A was significantly upregulated in Osimertinib acquired resistance tissues of NSCLC. circ_PPAPDC1A reduced the sensitivity of PC9 and HCC827 cells to Osimertinib and promoted cell proliferation, invasion, migration, while inhibiting apoptosis in Osimertinib-resistant PC9/OR and HCC829/OR cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Silencing circ_PPAPDC1A partially reversed Osimertinib resistance. Additionally, circ_PPAPDC1A acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by targeting miR-30a-3p, and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Receptor (IGF1R) was identified as a functional gene for miR-30a-3p in NSCLC. Furthermore, the results confirmed that circ_PPAPDC1A/miR-30a-3p/IGF1R axis plays a role in activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in NSCLC with Osimertinib resistance.ConclusionsTherefore, for the first time we identified that circ_PPAPDC1A was significantly upregulated and exerts an oncogenic role in NSCLC with Osimertinib resistance by sponging miR-30a-3p to active IGF1R/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. circ_PPAPDC1A may serve as a novel diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for NSCLC patients with Osimertinib resistance.Graphical

CircFTO from M2 macrophage-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEV) enhances NSCLC malignancy by regulation miR-148a-3pPDK4 axis

BackgroundAccumulation studies found that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a predominant cell in tumor microenvironment (TME), which function essentially during tumor progression. By releasing bioactive molecules, including circRNA, small extracellular vesicles (sEV) modulate immune cell functions in the TME, thereby affecting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. Nevertheless, biology functions and molecular mechanisms of M2 macrophage-derived sEV circRNAs in NSCLC are unclear.MethodsCellular experiments were conducted to verify the M2 macrophage-derived sEV (M2-EV) roles in NSCLC. Differential circRNA expression in M0 and M2-EV was validated by RNA sequencing. circFTO expression in NSCLC patients and cells was investigated via real-time PCR and FISH. The biological mechanism of circFTO in NSCLC was validated by experiments. Our team isolated sEV from M2 macrophages (M2Ms) and found that M2-EV treatment promoted NSCLC CP, migration, and glycolysis.ResultsHigh-throughput sequencing found that circFTO was highly enriched in M2-EV. FISH and RT-qPCR confirmed that circFTO expression incremented in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Clinical studies confirmed that high circFTO expression correlated negatively with NSCLC patient survival. Luciferase reporter analysis confirmed that miR-148a-3p and PDK4 were downstream targets of circFTO. circFTO knockdown inhibited NSCLC cell growth and metastasis in in vivo experiments. Downregulating miR-148a-3p or overexpressing PDK4 restored the malignancy of NSCLC, including proliferation, migration, and aerobic glycolysis after circFTO silencing.ConclusionThe study found that circFTO from M2-EV promoted NSCLC cell progression and glycolysis through miR-148a-3p/PDK4 axis. circFTO is a promising prognostic and diagnostic NSCLC biomarker and has the potential to be a candidate NSCLC therapy target.

Abstract 7019: Identifying cell free DNA methylation signatures in cerebrospinal fluids for the early detection of brain metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract Brain metastasis (BM) is major complication for adult cancer patients. Up to 2% of all cancer patients develop BM. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) contributes up to 55% of all BM. Approximately 15-20% of NSCLC patients show metastases at diagnosis, and approximately half will develop BM during their clinical course. Even after treatments like surgery, radiation and immunotherapy, the prognosis is dismal with median overall survival less than 13 months. No standard screening or early diagnostic testing exists for BM now. There is an urgent need to identify genomic features that predispose towards brain metastasis - these biomarkers could be used for early detection and disease monitoring. The cfDNA methylation and fragmentation patterns provide potential epigenetic biomarkers for detecting cancer. These patterns are specific to cell/tissue origin and cancer types. DNA methylation refers to a chemical modification of a specific carbon with an added methyl group in the cytosine. Hypomethylation in the gene body and hypermethylation in the promoter region lead to cancer development. We hypothesize that there are specific cfDNA methylation and fragmentation signatures in CSF that reflect the epigenetic states of BMs, and cancer predisposition for brain metastasis. We applied a novel single molecule sequencing approach to study CSF cfDNA methylation of BM from NSCLC. Our cohort consisted of ten patients with NSCLC-BM (samples N=14) and eleven healthy controls (N=11). Briefly, extracted cfDNA was obtained from CSF samples. Multiplexed sequencing libraries were prepared following an optimized protocol, and sequenced on PromethION flow cell for 72hr by Oxford nanopore technologies. Data were processed with the onboard base and methylation calling, followed by our bioinformatic pipelines for cfDNA size and methylation analysis. Distinct methylation patterns were found on significant CpG sites (fdr-corrected p&amp;lt;0.01) between cancer patients and controls, in both gene-body and promoter region. Biological pathway analysis showed enrichment in essential functions involving PI3K, ERBB2, TNF-α signaling (p&amp;lt;0.03), all of which play a role in NSCLC. Enriched mono-nucleosome levels (p = 1.07e-03) and differentiated mono-/tri- nucleosome ratios (p = 1.34e-03) were found in cancer vs. controls. Overall, our results suggest that a combination of cfDNA methylation and fragmentation can detect NSCLC-BM. This study will benefit BM patients with early detection and better prognosis, and extend our understanding in brain metastases in NSCLC. Citation Format: Tianqi (Kiki) Chen, Billy T. Lau, Xiangqi Bai, Melanie Hayden Gephart, Hanlee P. Ji. Identifying cell free DNA methylation signatures in cerebrospinal fluids for the early detection of brain metastasis in 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 7019.

Silencing lncRNA-DARS-AS1 suppresses nonsmall cell lung cancer progression by stimulating miR-302a-3p to inhibit ACAT1 expression.

Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) have been gaining attention as potential therapeutic targets for lung cancer. In this study, we investigated the expression and biological behavior of lncRNA DARS-AS1, its predicted interacting partner miR-302a-3p, and ACAT1 in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The transcript level of DARS-AS1, miR-302a-3p, and ACAT1 was analyzed using qRT-PCR. Endogenous expression of ACAT1 and the expression of-and changes in-AKT/ERK pathway-related proteins were determined using western blotting. MTS, Transwell, and apoptosis experiments were used to investigate the behavior of cells. The subcellular localization of DARS-AS1 was verified using FISH, and its binding site was verified using dual-luciferase reporter experiments. The binding of DARS-AS1 to miR-302a-3p was verified using RNA co-immunoprecipitation. In vivo experiments were performed using a xenograft model to determine the effect of DARS-AS1 knockout on ACAT1 and NSCLC. lncRNA DARS-AS1 was upregulated in NSCLC cell lines and tissues and the expression of lncRNA DARS-AS1 was negatively correlated with survival of patients with NSCLC. Knockdown of DARS-AS1 inhibited the malignant behaviors of NSCLC via upregulating miR-302a-3p. miR-302a-3p induced suppression of malignancy through regulating oncogene ACAT1. This study demonstrates that the DARS-AS1-miR-302a-3p-ACAT1 pathway plays a key role in NSCLC.

Triptolide restrains the growth, invasion, stemness, and glycolysis of non-small cell lung cancer cells by PFKFB2-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway.

Triptolide (TP) has been found to have anti-tumor effects. However, more potential molecular mechanisms of TP in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) deserve further investigation. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and stemness were detected by cell counting kit 8 assay, EdU assay, flow cytometry, transwell assay, and sphere formation assay. Cell glycolysis was evaluated by corresponding assay kits. 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 2 (PFKFB2) expression was measured by western blot (WB), qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining. PI3K/AKT pathway-related markers were determined by WB. Besides, xenograft tumor model was conducted to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of TP in NSCLC. Our results revealed that TP treatment suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion, stemness, glycolysis, and enhanced apoptosis. PFKFB2 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells, and its expression was decreased by TP. PFKFB2 knockdown restrained NSCLC cell functions, and its overexpression also eliminated TP-mediated NSCLC cell functions inhibition. TP decreased PFKFB2 expression to inactivate PI3K/AKT pathway. Moreover, PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor LY294002 also could reverse the promoting effect of PFKFB2 on NSCLC cell functions. In addition, TP suppressed NSCLC tumorigenesis by inhibiting PFKFB2/PI3K/AKT pathway. In conclusion, TP exerted anti-tumor role in NSCLC, which was achieved by reducing PFKFB2 expression to inactivate PI3K/AKT pathway.

Prolyl hydroxylase domain enzyme PHD2 inhibits proliferation and metabolism in non-small cell lung cancer cells in HIF-dependent and HIF-independent manners.

Prolyl hydroxylase domain protein 2 (PHD2) is one of the intracellular oxygen sensors that mediates proteasomal degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-α via hydroxylation under normoxic conditions. Because of its canonical function in the hypoxia signaling pathway, PHD2 is generally regarded as a tumor suppressor. However, the effects of PHD2 in tumorigenesis are not entirely dependent on HIF-α. Based on analysis of data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we observed that the expression of PHD2 is upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for approximately 80-85% of lung cancers. This suggests that PHD2 may play an important role in NSCLC. However, the function of PHD2 in NSCLC remains largely unknown. In this study, we established PHD2-deficient H1299 cells and PHD2-knockdown A549 cells to investigate the function of PHD2 in NSCLC and found that PHD2 suppresses cell proliferation and metabolism but induces ROS levels in human NSCLC cells. Further results indicated that the function of PHD2 in NSCLC is dependent on its enzymatic activity and partially independent of HIF. Moreover, we performed RNA-sequencing and transcriptomic analysis to explore the underlying mechanisms and identified some potential targets and pathways regulated by PHD2, apart from the canonical HIF-mediated hypoxia signaling pathway. These results provide some clues to uncover novel roles of PHD2 in lung cancer progression.

ABCA8 Elevation Predicts the Prognosis and Exerts the Anti-oncogenic Effects on the Malignancy of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer via TCF21-Mediated Inactivation of PI3K/AKT.

The malignant growth and metastatic potential of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are the major causes for its poor prognosis. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) subfamily A member 8 (ABCA8) exerts contradictive roles in the development of several cancers. Nevertheless, its role in NSCLC remains unclear. In this study, three GEO datasets and bioinformatics databases (GEPIA2 and UALCAN) revealed the obvious down-regulation of ABCA8 in NSCLC tissues and cells, and this expression was associated with cancer stages and lymph node metastasis. Low expression of ABCA8 predicted poor survival in NSCLC. ABCA8 elevation inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis. Moreover, ABCA8 overexpression suppressed cancer cell invasion. Mechanistically, ABCA8 was associated with TCF21 in NSCLC specimens and its overexpression enhanced TCF21 expression. ABCA8 elevation inactivated the PI3K/AKT signaling, which was reversed after TCF21 knockdown. Additionally, targeting TCF21 overturned the anti-oncogenic effects of ABCA8 elevation on cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasion. Thus, the current findings highlight that ABCA8 may be a promising prognostic marker and may act as a suppressor gene to regulate the malignancy of NSCLC cells via TCF21-mediated inactivation of PI3K/AKT signaling, supporting a new promising target for the treatment of NSCLC.

Abstract A064: Establishing the cellular and molecular impacts of the dual BRM/BRG1 inhibitor FHD-286 on pre-clinical models of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Abstract The BRG/BRM-associated factor (BAF) complex plays critical roles in chromatin regulation. Within this complex, the two mutually exclusive ATPases BRM and BRG1 (SMARCA2 and SMARCA4, respectively) drive chromatin remodeling activity. Genetic alterations in the SMARCA4 gene, encoding BRG1, are found in approximately 10% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, leaving this subset of BRG1-deficient tumors highly susceptible to BRM inhibition. In addition, BRG1 has oncogenic activity in NSCLC, rationalizing the use of a dual BRM/BRG1 ATPase inhibitor, such as the highly potent clinical stage compound FHD-286, in NSCLC patients, regardless of SMARCA4 status. Here, we demonstrate that a panel of NSCLC cell lines respond to dual BAF ATPase inhibition in both in vitro and in vivo settings, regardless of SMARCA4 mutation status. Interestingly, dual BRM/BRG1 inhibition in cell lines reduces chromatin accessibility at motifs normally bound by AP-1 transcription factors, which play tumorigenic roles in NSCLC. We also find that expression of the stemness-associated glycoprotein CD44 is decreased by FHD-286, suggesting that dual BRM/BRG1 inhibition impacts the differentiation state of NSCLC. Moreover, transcriptional analyses of NSCLC xenograft models reveal that a basal cell gene expression signature, which is associated with a less differentiated cell state, is downregulated by FHD-286 treatment. Finally, genome-wide CRISPR knockout screening with FHD-286 in 2 NSCLC lines further elucidates mechanisms of action and molecular vulnerabilities induced by dual BAF ATPase inhibition. Collectively, these results indicate a path forward for the development of FHD-286 for the treatment of NSCLC patients. Citation Format: Molly M. Wilson, Ammar Adam, Victoria Amaral, Oliver Mikse, GiNell Elliott, David L. Lahr, Ashley K. Gartin, Jessica Wan, Liv Johannessen, Kana Ichikawa, Katharine Feldman, Jessica Piel, Gabriel J. Sandoval, Richard C. Centore, Steven F. Bellon, Martin Hentemann. Establishing the cellular and molecular impacts of the dual BRM/BRG1 inhibitor FHD-286 on pre-clinical models of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2023 Oct 11-15; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2023;22(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A064.

Knockdown of DLK4 inhibits non-small cell lung cancer tumor growth by downregulating CKS2.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of all lung cancer cases and is considered as the most common type of cancer. DLX4 was originally identified as a β-globin gene suppressor in red blood cells, which plays critical roles in several types of cancers. However, the role and related mechanism of DLX4 in NSCLC are still unclear. The study aimed to uncover the expression of DLX4 in human NSCLC cells and tissues, reveal its possible role in NSCLC, and investigate the underlying mechanisms. Immunoblot and TCGA database were used to detect the expression of DLX4 in human NSCLC cells and tissues. CCK-8, colony formation, and FCM assays were conducted to detect the effects of DLX4 on the viability and cell cycle of NCI-H2170 and A549 cells. Immunoblot assays were further performed to investigate the possible mechanism underlying DLX4 affecting the growth of NSCLC. We revealed that knockdown of DLX4 inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation. We further revealed that DLX4 knockdown induced the NSCLC cell cycle arrest. Our results further showed that downregulation of DLX4 suppressed YB-1 expression, which further suppressed CKS2 expression, thereby suppressing tumor growth of NSCLC. In conclusion, DLX4 has the potential to serve as a promising drug for NSCLC treatment.

FOXA1 prolongs S phase and promotes cancer progression in non-small cell lung cancer through upregulation of CDC5L and activation of the ERK1/2 and JAK2 pathways.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) causes high mortality worldwide; however, its molecular pathways have not been fully investigated. The relationship between FOXA1 and CDC5L as well as their roles in NSCLC have not been comprehensively studied. Clinical tissues were collected from 78 NSCLC patients for clinical studies. The BEAS-2B human normal lung epithelial cell line and the A549, Calu-3, H526 and H2170 human NSCLC cell lines were used for in vitro studies. sh-FOXA1 and oe-CDC5L constructs were used to generate knockdown and overexpression models, respectively. The CCK-8 assay was used to analyze cell viability. The cell cycle and apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. The relationship between FOXA1 and CDC5L was demonstrated using dual-luciferase and ChIP assays. Gene levels were examined via immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. FOXA1 levels were increased in NSCLC clinical tissues and cell lines. Depletion of FOXA1 increased the apoptosis rate and increased the proportion of cells in G2/M phase. In addition, we demonstrated that FOXA1 was directly bound to the promoter of CDC5L and that depletion of FOXA1 inhibited CDC5L expression. Overexpression of CDC5L induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, induced JAK2 phosphorylation, inhibited cell apoptosis, prolonged S phase, and significantly reversed the effects of FOXA1 knockdown on the progression of NSCLC. The present study demonstrated that FOXA1 prolongs S phase and promotes NSCLC progression through upregulation of CDC5L and activation of the ERK1/2 and JAK2 pathways.