Project description:We examined microarray data of miRNAs and mRNAs from 77 cases of lung adenocarcinoma, including 42 ALK-rearranged cases. a multistep bioinformatics approach to build a miRNA–mRNA regulatory network in ALK-rearranged lung adenocarcinoma.
Project description:We examined microarray data of miRNAs and mRNAs from 77 cases of lung adenocarcinoma, including 42 ALK-rearranged cases. a multistep bioinformatics approach to build a miRNA–mRNA regulatory network in ALK-rearranged lung adenocarcinoma.
Project description:Acquired drug resistance is the major therapeutic obstacle to maintenance treatment of advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) harboring driver mutations also showed poor response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Underlying mechanisms of how drug insensitivity evolves remain unclear. Here we explored the intratumoral heterogeneity of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearranged lung ADC organoids using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) transcriptomic analysis. IL-17 signaling pathway was found highly induced in a subpopulation of pre-existing ALK-TKI-resistant cells. These drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cells, also found to have high surface intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression level, were more resistant towards ALK-TKI and expressed a higher level of cancer-stem cell transcriptional factors. Moreover, tumor cells with high ICAM-1 expression were found spatially correlated with RORɣt+ Th17 infiltration in ALK-rearranged NSCLC resected tumor tissues. In conclusion, our data revealed marked intratumoral heterogeneity in ALK-rearranged tumor, and pre-existing DTP cells may contribute to the development of drug insensitivity in ALK-rearranged lung ADC.
Project description:DNA microarray analysis of ALK-rearranged lung cancer cells (H3122) comparing control untreated cells with cells treated by YHO-1701 (STAT3 inhibitor) for 24h.
Project description:The rearrangement of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) occurs in 3%-5% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and confers sensitivity to ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). For the treatment of patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC, various additional ALK-TKIs have been developed. Ceritinib is a second-generation ALK-TKI and has shown great efficacy in the treatment of patients with both newly diagnosed and crizotinib, a first-generation ALK-TKI, refractory ALK-rearranged NSCLC. However, tumors can also develop ceritinib resistance. This may result from secondary ALK mutations, but other mechanisms responsible for this have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the mechanisms of ceritinib resistance by establishing ceritinib-resistant, echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4)-ALK-positive H3122 cells and ceritinib-resistant patient-derived cells. We identified a mechanism of ceritinib resistance induced by bypass signals that is mediated by the overexpression and activation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3). FGFR3 knockdown by small hairpin RNA or treatment with FGFR inhibitors was found to resensitize the resistant cells to ceritinib in vitro and in vivo. FGFR ligands from either human serum or fetal bovine serum were able to activate FGFR3 and induce ceritinib resistance. A detailed analysis of ceritinib-resistant patient-derived specimens confirmed that tyrosine-protein kinase Met (cMET) amplification induces ceritinib resistance. Amplified cMET counter-activated EGFR and/or Her3, and induced ceritinib resistance. These results reveal multiple ceritinib resistance mechanisms and suggest that ceritinib resistance might be able to overcome by identifying precise resistance mechanisms.
Project description:The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene fusion functions as a potent oncogene in lung cancer. The development of ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors has improved patient outcomes. However, cancer progression commonly occurs even after treatment. Chemoresistance arises mostly by the acquisition of gatekeeper mutations in ALK as well as by off-target bypass mechanisms arising during chemotherapy. To investigate these bypass mechanisms, we studied crizotinib resistance in ALK-rearranged lung cancer by using 2D and 3D cell line models and longitudinal human biopsy samples. We found that crizotinib-resistant H2228 cells exhibited increased tumor cell clustering and spheroid formation, with elevated E-cadherin levels. Notably, depletion of E-cadherin profoundly disrupted spheroid formation and restored drug sensitivity. Transcriptomic profiling revealed the upregulation of tissue morphology-related genes; in particular, EpCAM was highly expressed in the protrusive regions of spheroids. Remarkably, longitudinal biopsy analysis also demonstrated enhanced expression of E-cadherin and EpCAM in patients with ALK-rearranged lung cancer during chemotherapy. We propose that off-target resistance is mediated by the upregulation of morphogenic genes, which drive cell clustering and spheroid formation during tumor evolution. To overcome chemoresistance, it is crucial to monitor tumor evolution during treatment. Tracking the collective migration of cells may present a novel therapeutic target.