NLK functions to maintain proliferation and stemness of NSCLC and is a target of metformin.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Nemo-like kinase (NLK) is an evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine kinase that regulates the activity of a wide range of signal transduction pathways. Metformin, an oral antidiabetic drug, is used for cancer prevention. However, the significance and underlying mechanism of NLK and metformin in oncogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigate a novel role of NLK and metformin in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials and methods

NLK expression was analyzed in 121 NSCLCs and 92 normal lung tissue samples from benign pulmonary disease. Lentivirus vectors with NLK-shRNA were used to examine the effect of NLK on cell proliferation and tumorigenesis in vitro. Then, tumor xenograft mouse models revealed that NLK knockdown cells had a reduce

SUBMITTER: Suwei D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4620602 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature