Cisplatin-induced genetic alterations in KEAP1 promote therapeutic resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Cisplatin (CDDP) resistance remains a major challenge in the treatment of recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The KEAP1-NRF2 system, a central regulator of cellular redox homeostasis, is frequently altered in cancer, but its contribution to acquired CDDP resistance in HNSCC remains to be clarified. To address this, we investigated NRF2 activation in CDDP resistance using seven parental (P) HNSCC cell lines and their CDDP-resistant (CR) derivatives. Among these P-CR pairs, three CR lines exhibited elevated NRF2 expression; two harbored KEAP1 mutations, and one had an NFE2L2 mutation that were present in both P and CR lines. These NRF2-high CR lines showed upregulation of NRF2 target genes and enrichment of xenobiotic metabolism and reactive oxygen species pathways. Mito

SUBMITTER: Nakayama Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12540038 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature