Mcl-1 调控NSCLC 对EGFR-TKIs敏感性的实验研究

目的:探讨人髓细胞白血病基因-1(myeloid cell leukemia-1,Mcl-1)是否参与调控非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)对EGFR-TKIs的敏感性,为非小细胞肺癌的治疗提供新的思路。方法:通过Western blot方法检测EGFR-TKIs敏感细胞H3255和耐药细胞H1975中Mcl-1蛋白的表达水平。分别给予敏感细胞H3255和耐药细胞H1975 EGFR-TKIs处理后检测细胞凋亡情况和Mcl-1蛋白表达水平。设计并合成特异性si RNA下调耐药细胞H1975中Mcl-1的表达,采用脂质体转染后通过流式细胞技术检测细胞的凋亡情况。结果:H3255细胞Mcl-1表达水平明显低于H1975细胞。一代EGFR-TKIs Gefitinib显著降低H3255细胞Mcl-1表达而不能减少H1975细胞Mcl-1表达。H1975细胞经二代EGFR-TKIs Afatinib和三代EGFR-TKIs AZD9291处理后Mcl-1表达明显减少。特异性si RNA下调H1975细胞Mcl-1表达可以促进细胞凋亡。结论:Mcl-1参与了调节NSCLC对EGFR-TKIs的敏感性,可能成为防止或逆转NSCLC对EGFR-TKIs耐药的潜在靶点。     

细胞自噬在吉非替尼治疗非小细胞肺癌中的作用及其机制研究

目的:观察吉非替尼对非小细胞肺癌细胞自噬的影响,并探讨其机制。方法:将BalB/CA-nu品系裸小鼠分成两组,各组20只,均造肺癌模型,其中吉非替尼治疗组小鼠在肺癌组模型的基础上给予吉非替尼25mg/kg 14d,停药后剖杀。取组织切片,通过免疫荧光、RT-PCR以及Western blot的试验方法检测自噬相关基因Beclin1和MAPLC3的表达。结果:免疫荧光、RT-PCR以及Western blot的试验方法检测均发现肺癌组小鼠组织中Beclin1和MAPLC3表达较低,而在吉非替尼处理组中,Beclin1和MAPLC3的表达明显升高,差异有统计学意义。结论:吉非替尼可以通过增强细胞自噬从而发挥对非小细胞肺癌的抑制作用。     

除痰解毒方联合吉非替尼对肺腺癌H1975荷瘤小鼠Twist、Fibronectin表达的影响

本文研究除痰解毒方(Chutan Jiedu Decoction,CJD)联合吉非替尼对肺腺癌H1975荷瘤小鼠移植瘤twist、fibronectin表达的影响,从上皮间质转化(Epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)角度探讨其抗肿瘤作用机制。建立人肺腺癌H1975耐药细胞荷瘤裸鼠模型,随机分为模型组,吉非替尼组,除痰解毒方低、中、高剂量组,除痰解毒方中剂量联合吉非替尼组,每组10只,各组予以相应的药物灌胃2周。检测瘤体积和瘤质量,计算抑瘤率,采用免疫组织化学法、Western blot法、荧光定量PCR法检测各组肿瘤组织twist、fibronectin蛋白及基因的表达。结果显示,联合用药组抑瘤率为61.92%,明显高于模型组、吉非替尼组,除痰解毒方低、中、高剂量组(P0.01)。免疫组织化学法、Western blot法及荧光定量PCR法结果均显示除痰解毒方中剂量、高剂量及联合用药组均能下调twist和fibronectin的表达,且联合用药组下调作用高于单独用药组(P0.01)。研究结果表明除痰解毒方联合吉非替尼对肺腺癌H1975荷瘤小鼠移植瘤生长及twist、fibronectin表达的抑制作用优于除痰解毒方单药及吉非替尼组,其协同增效作用可能与逆转EMT增强吉非替尼的敏感性有关。     

ROR1激活AKT/FOXO1信号介导非小细胞肺癌吉非替尼耐药

EGFR-TKI靶向治疗在非小细胞肺癌（non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC）综合治疗中显示出重要作用;然而,耐药性却极大限制其临床治疗效果。受体酪氨酸激酶样孤儿受体（receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1, ROR1）是I型受体酪氨酸激酶家族中的成员,在肿瘤发生发展中发挥重要作用。本研究拟探讨ROR1介导非小细胞肺癌吉非替尼耐药的作用及机制。采用吉非替尼反复诱导非小细胞肺癌HCC827细胞,建立吉非替尼耐药细胞株HCC827/GR。应用荧光定量PCR和Western 印迹检测HCC827/GR内ROR1的表达。采用shRNA的方法体外检测ROR1敲除前后HCC827/GR对吉非替尼耐药的变化,采用体外检测ROR1过表达前后HCC827对吉非替尼耐药的变化。体内检测ROR1敲除前后HCC827/GR对吉非替尼耐药的变化。Western 印迹检测HCC827/GR内ROR1下游信号分子的活化。实时荧光定量PCR及Western 印迹结果显示,HCC827/GR耐药细胞中的ROR1 mRNA和蛋白质表达水平显著高于HCC827敏感细胞。体外干扰ROR1表达,可明显增强HCC827/GR耐药细胞对吉非替尼的敏感性 (IC50 15.3±3.69 vs. 4.2±1.38),增加吉非替尼诱导的细胞凋亡 (20.5±2.52 vs. 41.8±3.74)。体外过表达ROR1显著增强HCC827敏感细胞对吉非替尼的耐药性(IC50 0.8±0.52 vs. 2.2±0.87)。体内裸鼠移植瘤实验同样发现,干扰ROR1能增强HCC827/GR移植瘤对吉非替尼的敏感性。进一步研究发现,AKT/FOXO1信号在HCC827/GR耐药细胞中异常活化,而干扰ROR1能够抑制AKT的磷酸化,并上调FOXO1的表达。上述结果表明,ROR1参与非小细胞肺癌吉非替尼耐药,抑制ROR1能够逆转吉非替尼耐药,其机制与ROR1调控AKT/FOXO1信号有关。     

Spautin-1通过抑制自噬可增强舒尼替尼诱导的肾癌细胞凋亡

目的:研究spautin-1(一种自噬抑制剂)是否能抑制舒尼替尼诱导的肾癌细胞的自噬以及对舒尼替尼诱导的肾癌细胞凋亡的影响。方法:以肾癌细胞系786-O细胞为模型,Western Blot检测spautin-1对舒尼替尼诱导786-O细胞自噬的影响;Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8)检测spautin-1和舒尼替尼对786-O细胞增殖的影响;应用流式细胞术,检测spautin-1对舒尼替尼诱导的786-O细胞凋亡的影响;Western Blot检测spautin-1的促凋亡作用与PI3K/AKT/GSK3β信号通路及抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2和Mcl-1的关系。结果:与舒尼替尼单独处理组相比,spautin-1能通过降低Beclin-1的表达显著抑制舒尼替尼在786-O细胞中诱导的自噬;Spautin-1和舒尼替尼联合作用明显增强舒尼替尼对786-O细胞增殖的抑制作用;Spautin-1能进一步增强舒尼替尼诱导的786-O细胞的凋亡;Spautin-1和舒尼替尼联合处理786-O细胞时,可以显著降低p-AKTSer473和p-GSK3βSer9的蛋白表达水平,增强GSK3β的活性,进而下调Bcl-2、Mcl-1的表达。结论:Spautin-1能通过抑制AKT活性并活化GSK3β,进一步降低抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2、Mcl-1的表达,增强舒尼替尼诱导的肾癌细胞凋亡。     

FGFR1通过调控PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路介导非小细胞肺癌对吉非替尼的耐药

目的:探讨成纤维细胞生长因子受体1(FGFR1)诱导非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)吉非替尼获得性耐药的机制。方法:用吉非替尼诱导PC9细胞构建耐药细胞株PC9/GR,用CCK-8、平板克隆形成、transwell技术检测细胞的增殖和迁移能力,用流式细胞术检测细胞的凋亡状况,qRT-PCR、免疫荧光和蛋白免疫印迹技术检测基因表达水平。进一步采用FGFR1抑制剂PD173074或si RNA-FGFR1处理PC9/GR细胞,检测细胞的增殖、迁移、克隆形成能力的变化及Akt、p-Akt、m TOR和p-mTOR表达的变化。结果:PC9/GR细胞的增殖、迁移及对吉非替尼的耐受能力显著增强;FGFR1在PC9/GR细胞中的表达水平显著升高;用PD173074处理PC9细胞后,其增殖、迁移能力及对吉非替尼的耐受能力显著下降;敲低FGFR1后Akt和m TOR的磷酸化水平显著下降。结论:FGFR1通过PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号通路介导非小细胞肺癌对吉非替尼的耐药。     

紫草素逆转埃克替尼对肺癌EGFR-TKI 耐药及其机制的研究

目的:观察紫草素联合埃克替尼对肺腺癌耐药细胞H1975增殖的影响,探讨克服耐药可能的作用机制。方法:应用MTT法检测紫草素(1.25~20μmo/L)、埃克替尼(5~100μmol/L)及两药联合干预对H1975细胞生长的抑制作用;流式细胞术观察紫草素(1.25μmol/L)、埃克替尼(10μmol/L)及联合使用对H1975凋亡作用;Western blot检测不同干预对H1975细胞EGFR、p-EGFR、AKT、p-AKT、ERK、p-ERK和凋亡相关蛋白PARP表达水平的影响。结果:MTT检测结果显示,与单药组相比,联合用药组细胞H1975增殖能力明显减弱,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);流式细胞术结果显示,联合用药组细胞的凋亡率达到(52.45±3.04)%,较紫草素组细胞凋亡率(22±1.17)%和埃克替尼处理组细胞凋亡率(15.35±5.85)%明显提高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。Western blot结果显示,单药组下调了p-EGFR、p-Akt蛋白水平的表达,而联合用药组显著抑制了p-ERK、PARP蛋白水平的表达,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),EGFR、AKT、ERK蛋白表达无差异(P0.05)。结论:紫草素联合埃克替尼能明显抑制H1975细胞增殖,促进肿瘤细胞凋亡;抗肿瘤机制可能与调节EGFR信号通路相关蛋白表达有关。     

Mcl-1在胆盐（GCDA）诱导的肝癌细胞耐药中的作用

目的：探讨抗凋亡蛋白Mcl-1在GCDA诱导的肝癌细胞耐药中的作用及其机制。方法：培养3种肝癌细胞系,用免疫荧光法和Western blot技术检测Mcl-1的表达;GCDA±CYC处理HepG2细胞,采用Western blot技术检测Mcl-1的半衰期变化;用抗癌药物Irinotecan与GCDA对HepG2细胞进行处理,采用MTT法和Western blot技术分别检测细胞增殖抑制率和Mcl-1的表达变化;用RNA干扰技术下调Mcl-1,检测化疗药物对HepG2细胞的敏感性。结果：Mcl-1在肝癌细胞中广泛表达;GCDA能延长Mcl-1的半衰期至6h以上,并明显减弱化疗药物对抗凋亡蛋白Mcl-1的抑制作用,降低癌细胞的药物敏感性;RNA干扰下调Mcl-1能增加癌细胞的药物敏感性。结论：胆盐（GCDA）能诱导HepG2细胞产生耐药性,其作用机制可能是通过延长Mcl-1半衰期增加其蛋白稳定性和抗凋亡作用来促使肝癌细胞抗药的。     

靶向Bcl-2克服非小细胞肺癌EGFR-TKIs获得性耐药

摘要 目的：探讨靶向抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2克服非小细胞肺癌EGFR-TKIs耐药的作用及重定位Bcl-2靶向抑制剂用于克服耐药的可行性。方法：通过药物浓度梯度递增法构建非小细胞肺癌多代EGFR-TKIs耐药株,根据亲本细胞和多代EGFR-TKIs耐药的非小细胞肺癌细胞的RNA-seq数据筛选出潜在耐药相关基因Bcl-2,通过Western blot 检测其在耐药细胞中的蛋白水平。为了探讨Bcl-2诱导耐药的作用,采用siRNA干扰和使用Bcl-2的抑制剂ABT199抑制Bcl-2,通过CCK8法、IncuCyte实时监测和Western blot等方法检测其对亲本和耐药细胞的细胞活力、药物敏感性、增殖和凋亡的影响。随后使用奥希替尼分别处理亲本及耐药细胞,通过Western Blot检测NRF2受到药物作用后及在耐药细胞中的蛋白水平,并以临床公共数据库分析辅助验证。使用siRNA干扰或NRF2抑制剂ML385敲低或抑制NRF2功能,借助Western Blot和CCK8法检测其对Bcl-2表达水平及对EGFR-TKI敏感性的影响;通过加入NRF2的激动剂Ki696探究其对Bcl-2的诱导作用、对EGFR-TKI敏感性的影响及取消靶向Bcl-2逆转耐药的作用。结果：Bcl-2在EGFR-TKIs耐药细胞中上调;敲低或抑制Bcl-2后,可选择性抑制耐药细胞的生长和活力,并诱导凋亡,且能逆转包括第三代药物奥希替尼在内的多代EGFR-TKIs耐药;EGFR-TKI可在敏感细胞中诱导NRF2的上调,且耐药细胞中上调的Bcl-2受NRF2调控。结论：EGFR-TKIs耐药细胞通过上调抗凋亡分子Bcl-2获得耐药,该分子的上调受NRF2的调控,靶向Bcl-2则可以逆转耐药。     

自噬与非小细胞肺癌对吉非替尼耐药关系的实验研究

目的:探讨细胞自噬与非小细胞肺癌对Gefitinib耐药的相关性,寻找逆转非小细胞肺癌对Gefitinib耐药的新靶点。方法:以体外培养的人非小细胞肺癌Gefitinib敏感细胞PC-9与Gefitinib耐药细胞PC-9/GR为研究对象,通过MTT法检测Gefitinib对PC-9及PC-9/GR细胞存活率的影响;Western blot检测Gefitinib对PC-9及PC-9/GR细胞中自噬相关蛋白LC3的表达的影响;流式细胞术检测自噬诱导剂雷帕霉素和Gefitinib对PC-9/GR细胞凋亡率的影响。结果:PC-9/GR细胞Gefitinib IC50为PC-9细胞的200倍以上,具有非常明显的耐药性。PC-9/GR细胞中LC3II的表达显著低于PC-9/GR细胞(P0.05)。Rapamycin联合Gefitinib作用于PC-9/GR细胞可以明显提高其细胞凋亡率(P0.05)。结论:细胞自噬减弱与非小细胞肺癌对Gefitinib耐药有关,诱导细胞自噬可能逆转非小细胞肺癌对Gefitinib耐药。     

Marsdenia tenacissima extract enhances gefitinib efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer xenografts

PurposeThe stem of Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Wight et Arn. has long been used as a medicine to treat cancer in China. Our previous in vitro results showed that Marsdenia tenacissima extract (MTE) overcomes gefitinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. However, it is unknown whether MTE could enhance gefitinib efficacy in vivo. The present study was intended to investigate the in vivo anti-tumour activity of MTE combined with gefitinib.MethodsHuman NSCLC H460 (K-ras mutation) or H1975 cells (EGFR T790M mutation) were subcutaneously inoculated into nude mice. Tumour volume and body weight were measured regularly. Resected tumours were weighed after the animals were sacrificed. Immunoblotting or immunohistochemistry was used to assess the cellular proliferation and apoptosis in xenograft tumour tissue. Expression of the EGFR downstream pathways and c-Met were measured with western blot analysis to explore possible mechanisms.ResultsMTE (5, 10, 20 g/kg) dose-dependently reduced tumour growth and induced cell apoptosis. MTE suppressed EGFR related signals, and 20 g/kg was the most effective dose. Low-dose MTE (5 g/kg) significantly enhanced gefitinib efficacy in resistant H460 and H1975 xenografts. The combination inhibited tumour proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in both resistant NSCLC xenografts. Constitutive activation of the PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways is related to EGFR-TKI resistance. Accordingly, phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and ERK1/2 was suppressed after combination treatment. Simultaneously, cross-talked c-Met and EGFR were also prominently lowered in the presence of MTE combined with gefitinib.ConclusionThe present results suggest that the combination of MTE and gefitinib may be a promising therapeutic approach to enhance gefitinib efficacy in resistant NSCLC.     

Chloroquine Enhances Gefitinib Cytotoxicity in Gefitinib-Resistant Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), including gefitinib, are effective for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutations. However, these patients eventually develop resistance to EGFR-TKI. The goal of the present study was to investigate the involvement of autophagy in gefitinib resistance. We developed gefitinib-resistant cells (PC-9/gef) from PC-9 cells (containing exon 19 deletion EGFR) after long-term exposure in gefitinib. PC-9/gef cells (B4 and E3) were 200-fold more resistant to gefitinib than PC-9/wt cells. Compared with PC-9/wt cells, both PC-9/gefB4 and PC-9/gefE3 cells demonstrated higher basal LC3-II levels which were inhibited by 3-methyladenine (3-MA, an autophagy inhibitor) and potentiated by chloroquine (CQ, an inhibitor of autophagolysosomes formation), indicating elevated autophagy in PC-9/gef cells. 3-MA and CQ concentration-dependently inhibited cell survival of both PC-9wt and PC-9/gef cells, suggesting that autophagy may be pro-survival. Furthermore, gefitinib increased LC3-II levels and autolysosome formation in both PC-9/wt cells and PC-9/gef cells. In PC-9/wt cells, CQ potentiated the cytotoxicity by low gefitinib (3nM). Moreover, CQ overcame the acquired gefitinib resistance in PC-9/gef cells by enhancing gefitinib-induced cytotoxicity, activation of caspase 3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Using an in vivo model xenografting with PC-9/wt and PC-9/gefB4 cells, oral administration of gefitinib (50 mg/kg) completely inhibited the tumor growth of PC-9/wt but not PC-9/gefB4cells. Combination of CQ (75 mg/kg, i.p.) and gefitinib was more effective than gefitinib alone in reducing the tumor growth of PC-9/gefB4. Our data suggest that inhibition of autophagy may be a therapeutic strategy to overcome acquired resistance of gefitinib in EGFR mutation NSCLC patients.     

Src mediates ERK reactivation in gefitinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer

To study epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) resistance mechanisms, we established a novel gefitinib-resistant lung cancer cell line derived from an EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer cell line (PC-9) pretreated with 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (designated PC9-GR). We found that gefitinib substantially suppressed the EGFR signaling pathway, whereas ERK was reactivated after several hours in PC9-GR but not in PC-9. The combination of gefitinib with ERK inhibition (by U0126) restored gefitinib susceptibility in PC9-GR, but PI3K-Akt inhibition with LY294002 did not. Although the levels of phosphorylated Src were up-regulated simultaneously with ERK reactivation, neither ERK suppression using U0126 nor an ERK-specific siRNA induced Src phosphorylation. Furthermore, dual inhibition of EGFR and Src restored gefitinib sensitivity in PC9-GR in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our results indicate that Src-mediated ERK reactivation may play a role in a novel gefitinib resistance mechanism, and that the combined use of gefitinib with a Src inhibitor may be a potent strategy to overcome this resistance.     

Sequence-Dependent Antiproliferative Effects of Gefitinib and Docetaxel on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Cells and the Possible Mechanism

Purpose

Recent clinical trials showed that the sequential combination of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) and chemotherapy could prolong the PFS and/or OS of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutation. The aim of present study was to assess the optimal combination sequence and to explore its possible mechanism.

Methods

PC-9 cells and A549 cells, the lung adenocarcinoma cells with mutant and wide-type EGFR respectively, were treated with docetaxel/gefitinib alone or in different combination schedules. The EGFR and K-ras gene status was determined by qPCR-HRM technique. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. The expression and phosphorylation of EGFR, ERK, Akt and IGF-1R were detected by western blot. Cell cycle distribution was observed by flow cytometry.

Results

Only sequential administration of docetaxel followed by gefitinib (D→G) induced significant synergistic effect in both cell lines (Combination Index<0.9). The reverse sequence (G→D) resulted in an antagonistic interaction in both cell lines (CI>1.1), whereas the concurrent administration (D+G) showed additive (0.9<CI<1.1)-synergistic effect in PC-9 cells and antagonistic-additive effect in A549 cells. Mechanism studies showed that docetaxel-induced phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK was repressed by subsequently used gefitinib, but not by concurrent exposure of gefitinib. The gefitinib-repressed phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK was reversed neither by concurrent nor by subsequent administration of docetaxel. D+G reinforced their inhibition on the phosphorylation of IGF-1R in PC-9 cells.

Conclusions

The cytotoxic drugs followed by EGFR-TKIs may be the optimal combination for antiproliferative effects in EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells, and the phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK might contribute to this effect.     

非小细胞肺癌组织MMP-2、MMP-9的表达与组织学类型及临床分期的关系

目的:探究非小细胞肺癌组织基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)、基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)的表达及其与患者组织学类型及其临床分期的关系。方法:选取2014年1月至2017年1月于我院进行就诊并确诊为非小细胞肺癌的96例患者为实验组,另选取30例肺良性病变患者为对照组,使用免疫组织化学的方法检测患者肺癌组织或肺良性病变组织中MMP-2、MMP-9的表达,并分析MMP-2、MMP-9的表达与患者组织学类型及临床分期之间的关系。结果:非小细胞肺癌组织MMP-2及MMP-9表达水平显著高于肺良性病变组织(P0.05)。非小细胞肺癌鳞癌组织MMP-2、MMP-9表达明显高于腺癌和腺鳞癌(P0.05),而鳞癌与腺鳞癌组织MMP-2、MMP-9表达相比差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。随着非小细胞肺癌临床分期的增加,癌组织MMP-2及MMP-9表达逐渐上升,各分期比较差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:MMP-2、MMP-9在非小细胞肺癌组织中的表达水平明显上调,以鳞癌最高,且与临床分期显著相关,提示其对组织学类型、临床分期、病情评估和预后判断均具有一定的参考意义。     

NK92-CD16 cells are cytotoxic to non-small cell lung cancer cell lines that have acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors

BackgroundTreatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has improved the outcomes for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring targetable driver mutations. However, acquired resistance to TKIs invariably develops within approximately 1 year of treatment by various mechanisms, including gatekeeper mutations, alternative pathway activation and histological transformations. Because immunotherapy is an option for patients with drug-resistant cancers, we generated several TKI-resistant NSCLC cell lines in vitro, and then evaluated the cytotoxicity of NK92-CD16 cells to these resistant cells.Materials and MethodsTKI-resistant NSCLC cells (H3122CR1, H3122LR1, H3122CR1LR1, PC-9GR, PC-9ER, EBC-CR1 and EBC-CR2) were established from NCI-H3122 (EML4-ALK fusion), PC-9 (EGFR exon19 deletion) and EBC-1 (MET amplification) after continuous exposure to crizotinib, ceritinib, gefitinib, erlotinib and capmatinib. Expression of ligands for natural killer (NK) cell receptors and total EGFR were analyzed using flow cytometry. NK cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) using anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody (mAb) cetuximab were measured using NK92-CD16 as effectors and detected using the ⁵¹Chromium-release assay.ResultsWe found that NK92-CD16 cells preferentially killed TKI-resistant NSCLC cells when compared with their parental NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) was up-regulated in the TKI-resistant NSCLC cells and patients’ tumors, and the ICAM-1 up-regulated cancer cells lines were less susceptible to NK cytotoxicity by blocking ICAM-1. Moreover, NK92-CD16 cell-induced cytotoxicity toward TKI-resistant NSCLC cells was enhanced in the presence of cetuximab, an EGFR-targeting mAb.ConclusionThese data suggest that combinational treatment with NK cell–based immunotherapy and cetuximab may be promising for patients with TKI-resistant NSCLC.     

miR-138-5p reverses gefitinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer cells via negatively regulating G protein-coupled receptor 124

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs) such as gefitinib are clinically effective treatments for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR activating mutations. However, therapeutic effect is ultimately limited by the development of acquired TKI resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a category of small non-coding RNAs commonly deregulated in human malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miRNAs in gefitinib resistance. We established a gefitinib-resistant cell model (PC9GR) by continually exposing PC9 NSCLC cells to gefitinib for 6 months. MiRNA microarray screening revealed miR-138-5p showed the greatest downregulation in PC9GR cells. Re-expression of miR-138-5p was sufficient to sensitize PC9GR cells and another gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cell line, H1975, to gefitinib. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay showed that G protein-coupled receptor124 (GPR124) was a direct target of miR-138-5p. Experimental validation demonstrated that expression of GPR124 was suppressed by miR-138-5p on protein and mRNA levels in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, we observed an inverse correlation between the expression of miR-138-5p and GPR124 in lung adenocarcinoma specimens. Knockdown of GPR124 mimicked the effects of miR-138-5p on the sensitivity to gefitinib. Collectively, our results suggest that downregulation of miR-138-5p contributes to gefitinib resistance and that restoration of miR-138-5p or inhibition GPR124 might serve as potential therapeutic approach for overcoming NSCLC gefitinib resistance.