Combined effect of ALK and MEK inhibitors in EML4-ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer cells

Background:

Although most non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4) – anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion gene – benefit from ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs), the efficacy of these drugs varies greatly among individuals.

Methods:

The antitumour action of ALK-TKIs in EML4–ALK-positive NSCLC cell lines was evaluated from their effects on cell proliferation, signal transduction, and apoptosis.

Results:

The ALK-TKI TAE684 inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, in association with inhibition of STAT3 and ERK phosphorylation, in EML4–ALK-positive H3122 cells. TAE684 inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation, but not ERK phosphorylation, and it showed little effect on cell proliferation or apoptosis, in EML4–ALK-positive H2228 cells. The combination of TAE684 and a MEK inhibitor-induced marked apoptosis accompanied by inhibition of STAT3 and ERK pathways in H2228 cells. Such dual interruption of STAT3 and ERK pathways induced downregulation of the antiapoptotic protein survivin and upregulation of the proapoptotic protein BIM.

Conclusion:

Our results indicate that interruption of both STAT3-survivin and ERK–BIM pathways is required for induction of apoptosis in NSCLC harbouring EML4–ALK, providing a rationale for combination therapy with ALK and MEK inhibitors in EML4–ALK-positive NSCLC patients for whom ALK inhibitors alone are ineffective.     

Continuation of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment prolongs disease control in non-small-cell lung cancers with acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Objectives

Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) develop acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs) after tumor regression. No approved targeted therapies are currently available after initial EGFR TKI treatment. This study investigated the efficacy of continuing EGFR TKI therapy with local treatments for patients with NSCLC and local progression or minimal/slow progression on TKI therapy.

Materials and Methods

Fifty-five patients with NSCLC treated with EGFR TKIs and developed acquired resistance to the drug were included. Initial response to target therapy, median progression free survival (PFS1), progression pattern, and first progression site were assessed. Median progression free survival to physician assessment progression (PFS2) and difference between PFS1 and PFS2 (PFS difference) were also recorded.

Results and Conclusion

PFS1 was 11.2 months, PFS2 was 20.3 months, and PFS difference was 8.3 months. Nineteen patients (34.5%) who manifested progression received local therapy, and 16 (28.6%) underwent rebiopsy after progression with six positive EGFR T790M mutations detected. Cox proportional hazards regression model showed that only the first line of treatment was significantly correlated with PFS difference. NSCLC patients with acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs could benefit from the same TKI therapy through months to years of disease control.     

Antitumor activity of pimasertib,a selective MEK 1/2 inhibitor,in combination with PI3K/mTOR inhibitors or with multi‐targeted kinase inhibitors in pimasertib‐resistant human lung and colorectal cancer cells

The RAS/RAF/MEK/MAPK and the PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways are key regulators of proliferation and survival in human cancer cells. Selective inhibitors of different transducer molecules in these pathways have been developed as molecular targeted anti‐cancer therapies. The in vitro and in vivo anti‐tumor activity of pimasertib, a selective MEK 1/2 inhibitor, alone or in combination with a PI3K inhibitor (PI3Ki), a mTOR inhibitor (everolimus), or with multi‐targeted kinase inhibitors (sorafenib and regorafenib), that block also BRAF and CRAF, were tested in a panel of eight human lung and colon cancer cell lines. Following pimasertib treatment, cancer cell lines were classified as pimasertib‐sensitive (IC₅₀ for cell growth inhibition of 0.001 µM) or pimasertib‐resistant. Evaluation of basal gene expression profiles by microarrays identified several genes that were up‐regulated in pimasertib‐resistant cancer cells and that were involved in both RAS/RAF/MEK/MAPK and PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways. Therefore, a series of combination experiments with pimasertib and either PI3Ki, everolimus, sorafenib or regorafenib were conducted, demonstrating a synergistic effect in cell growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis with sustained blockade in MAPK‐ and AKT‐dependent signaling pathways in pimasertib‐resistant human colon carcinoma (HCT15) and lung adenocarcinoma (H1975) cells. Finally, in nude mice bearing established HCT15 and H1975 subcutaneous tumor xenografts, the combined treatment with pimasertib and BEZ235 (a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor) or with sorafenib caused significant tumor growth delays and increase in mice survival as compared to single agent treatment. These results suggest that dual blockade of MAPK and PI3K pathways could overcome intrinsic resistance to MEK inhibition.     

PP4R1 interacts with HMGA2 to promote non-small-cell lung cancer migration and metastasis via activating MAPK/ERK-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Protein phosphatase 4 regulatory subunit 1 (PP4R1) has been shown to play a role in the regulation of centrosome maturation, apoptosis, DNA repair, and tumor necrosis factor signaling. However, the function of PP4R1 in non-small-cell lung cancer remains unclear. In this study, we identify PP4R1 as an oncogene through Oncomine database mining and immunohistochemical staining, and we showed that PP4R1 is upregulated in lung cancer tissues as compared with that in normal lung tissues and correlated with a poor prognosis in lung cancer patients. Furthermore, in vitro study by wound-healing and Transwell assay showed that PP4R1 could promote migration and invasion of lung cancer cells. Mechanistic investigations revealed that PP4R1 could cooperate with high mobility group AT-hook 2 and thereby promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition via MAPK/extracellular receptor kinase activation. Taken together, our study provides a rich resource for understanding PP4R1 in lung cancer and indicates that PP4R1 may serve as a potential biomarker in lung cancer therapies.     

Integration of EGFR inhibitors and conventional chemotherapy in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer

Introduction/Background

Given the limited gains of traditional chemotherapy in improving outcomes in patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), recent research efforts have investigated the integration of targeted agents into the treatment algorithm.

Materials and Methods

Searches of PubMed and of recent results from key oncology congresses were performed to identify relevant articles and abstracts. Initial phase III trials combining the reversible epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) gefitinib and erlotinib with platinum-based doublets as first-line therapy failed to demonstrate an overall survival advantage in unselected patients with NSCLC. However, in recent years, there has been substantial progress in understanding the determinants of response to EGFR TKI therapy, including the presence of activating EGFR mutations, which has been reflected in clinical trials specifically evaluating these patient populations. In addition, evidence suggesting potential mechanistic interference between concurrent EGFR TKIs and chemotherapy has also been observed, fueling interest in sequential or intermittent dosing. EGFR-targeted agents such as the multitargeted TKI vandetanib and the next-generation EGFR TKIs afatinib (BIBW 2992) and PF00299804 are also under clinical investigation for the treatment of NSCLC, both alone and in combination with chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Trials evaluating various regimens of EGFR-targeted agents and chemotherapy are planned and/or underway and will hopefully define the role of integrated therapy in NSCLC.     

Immunological effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on the tumor immune environment in non-small cell lung cancer

Acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) limits the duration of antitumor effects and impairs the survival of patients with oncogene-driven non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At present, little is known about the immunomodulatory ability of TKIs during the entire treatment period, including the drug-sensitive and drug-resistant periods. The present review aimed to comprehensively explore the dynamic changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) during TKI treatment in NSCLC. Previous clinical and preclinical studies from medical and health databases related to NSCLC are reviewed. During the response period, cytotoxic immune cells accumulate in the TME and contribute to the formation of an inflammatory microenvironment. During the resistance period, the number of immunosuppressive cells increases, as does the expression of immune checkpoint proteins, which are critical mechanisms for tumor progression. The combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy has been explored in multiple studies, and preliminary data showed controversial results. Extensive studies are needed to confirm the criteria of the selected patient subgroups and the toxicity profiles of EGFR TKIs and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). At present, the reagents targeting other immune cells, cytokines and related pathways remain underexplored compared with the revolutionary effect of ICIs in lung cancer. In the future, the precisely selected regimens for combination treatment should be further investigated in carefully designed xenograft models and clinical trials.     

Combined inhibition of MEK and PI3K pathways overcomes acquired resistance to EGFR‐TKIs in non‐small cell lung cancer

Compensatory activation of the signal transduction pathways is one of the major obstacles for the targeted therapy of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Herein, we present the therapeutic strategy of combined targeted therapy against the MEK and phosphoinositide‐3 kinase (PI3K) pathways for acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in NSCLC. We investigated the efficacy of combined trametinib plus taselisib therapy using experimentally established EGFR‐TKI‐resistant NSCLC cell lines. The results showed that the feedback loop between MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways had developed in several resistant cell lines, which caused the resistance to single‐agent treatment with either inhibitor alone. Meanwhile, the combined therapy successfully regulated the compensatory activation of the key intracellular signals and synergistically inhibited the cell growth of those cells in vitro and in vivo. The resistance mechanisms for which the dual kinase inhibitor therapy proved effective included (MET) mesenchymal‐epithelial transition factor amplification, induction of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and EGFR T790M mutation. In further analysis, the combination therapy induced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK signaling, leading to the activation of apoptosis cascade. Additionally, long‐term treatment with the combination therapy induced the conversion from EMT to mesenchymal‐to‐epithelial transition in the resistant cell line harboring EMT features, restoring the sensitivity to EGFR‐TKI. In conclusion, our results indicate that the combined therapy using MEK and PI3K inhibitors is a potent therapeutic strategy for NSCLC with the acquired resistance to EGFR‐TKIs.     

99mTc-MIBI显像预测局部晚期非小细胞肺癌同步放化疗的疗效

目的:探讨 99mTc-甲氧基异丁基异腈(methoxyisobutylisomitrile,MIBI)显像参数与局部晚期非小细胞肺癌(non-small-cell lung cancer,NSCLC)同步放化疗疗效之间的关联性。方法:23例晚期非小细胞肺癌患者确诊后,即行 99mTc-MIBI早期和延迟肺显像,定量计算肺肿瘤摄取比值(ER=早期相肿瘤/健侧正常肺组织摄取比值,DR=延迟相肿瘤/健侧正常肺组织摄取比值)、滞留指数（RI）=（DR－ER）/ER×100％,评价肺肿瘤参数与同步放化疗疗效之间的关系。患者分为同步放化疗有效组和同步放化疗无效组。结果:99mTc-MIBI显像中,同步放化疗有效组的ER、DR值均显著高于同步放化疗无效组(P均<0.05)。RI值在两组间无明显区别。结论:99mTc-MIBI显像在评价局部晚期非小细胞肺癌同步放化疗中具有重要的临床价值。     

上皮-间质转化在非小细胞肺癌侵袭与转移中作用的研究进展

上皮-间质转化（Epithelial—mesenchymal transition,EMT）与恶性肿瘤的侵袭及转移有着密切的关系,是目前研究恶性肿瘤侵袭及转移的热点。有大量研究表明在多种恶性肿瘤如乳腺癌、卵巢癌和非小细胞肺癌的侵袭与转移过程中都有上皮-间质转化现象,并阐述上皮-间质转化的信号通路及其蛋白分子。本文对上皮-间质转化在非小细胞肺癌侵袭与转移的研究成果做一综述。     

VEGF抑制剂联合酪氨酸激酶抑制剂一线治疗EGFR突变晚期非小细胞肺癌的疗效和安全性

目的:探讨血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)抑制剂联合酪氨酸激酶抑制剂(tyrosine kinase inhibitors,TKI)一线治疗表皮生长因子受体(epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR)突变晚期非小细胞肺癌...     

Blocking M2 muscarinic receptor signaling inhibits tumor growth and reverses epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Lung cancers express non-neuronal, cholinergic autoparacrine loop, which facilitates tumor growth. Interruption of M3 muscarinic cholinergic signaling has been reported to inhibit small cell lung cancer (SCLC) growth. The purpose of this study is to investigate if blocking autoparacrine muscarinic cholinergic signaling could inhibit non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) growth and possible underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that PC9 and A549 cells expressed all 5 subtypes of muscarinic receptor (mAChR) and blocking M2 mAChR (M2R) signaling using selective antagonist methoctramine or short hairpin RNA (shRNA) inhibited tumor cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Consistent with AChR agonists stimulating p44/42 MAPK (Erk1/2) and Akt phosphorylation, blocking M2R signaling decreased MAPK and Akt phosphorylation, indicating that non-neuronal ACh functions as an autoparacrine growth factor signaling in part through activation of M2R and downstream MAPK and Akt pathways. Importantly, further studies revealed that blocking M2R signaling also reversed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and in vivo, indicating that non-neuronal ACh promotes EMT partially through activation of M2R. These findings demonstrate that M2R plays a role in the growth and progression of NSCLC and suggest M2R antagonists may be an efficacious adjuvant therapy for NSCLC.     

Dose-intense therapy with etoposide, ifosfamide, cisplatin, and epirubicin (VIP-E) in 107 consecutive patients with limited- and extensive-stage non-small-cell lung cancer

Background: We conducted a phase I/II trial to assess the feasibilityand activity of combination chemotherapy with etoposide, ifosfamide,cisplatin, and epirubicin in limited-stage (LS, stage I–IIIB) andextensive-stage (ES, stage IV) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). End-pointswere treatment-related morbidity and mortality, response rate, duration ofresponse, and survival.Patients and methods: Chemotherapy followed by granulocytecolony-stimulating factor was given at a dose of etoposide (500mg/m²), ifosfamide (4000 mg/m²), cisplatin (50mg/m²), and epirubicin (50 mg/m²) (VIP-E) to107 patients with NSCLC. Twenty-five patients with qualifying responsesproceeded to high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem celltransplantation after etoposide (1500 mg/m²), ifosfamide(12,000 mg/m²), carboplatin (750 mg/m²) andepirubicin (150 mg/m²) (VIC-E) conditioning.Results of conventional-dose VIP-E: 35 of 102 (34%) evaluablepatients responded (2 CR's, 33 PR's), 33/102 patients (33%) showed nochange (NC); the remainder of patients progressed with therapy (PD). Objectiveresponse rate was 68% (4% CR, 64% PR) in LS-NSCLC and23% (1.4% CR, 21.4% PR) in ES-NSCLC. Median duration ofsurvival was 13 months in LS-NSCLC and 5.5 months in ES-NSCLC. Two-yearsurvival was 26% in LS and 2% in ES-NSCLC.Results of high-dose VIC-E: 23 of 24 evaluable patients improved ormaintained prior responses (92%), 1 patient showed NC. Treatmentmortality was 4%. Median duration of survival was 17 months in LS-NSCLCand 10 months in ES-NSCLC. Two-year survival was 30% in LS and8% in ES-NSCLC.Conclusion: Response-rates and survival after conventional-dose VIP-Echemotherapy are comparable to other published trials of combinationchemotherapy in NSCLC. Toxicity and mortality is acceptable in limited stage,but unacceptably high in extensive stage NSCLC. Although better response-rateswere achieved in the high-dose arm, they did not translate into improvedsurvival. Most stage IV NSCLC-patients will neither benefit from VIP-Econventional dose, nor from VIC-E high dose chemotherapy. Whether selectedLS-patients with partial or complete responses to VIP-E induction chemotherapycould benefit from dose intensification in an adjuvant or neo-adjuvant settingremains to be determined.     

Use of the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors gefitinib,erlotinib, afatinib,dacomitinib, and icotinib in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer: a systematic review

Introduction

This systematic review addresses the use of epidermal growth factor receptor (egfr) inhibitors in three populations of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (nsclc) patients—unselected, selected, and molecularly selected—in three treatment settings: first line, second line, and maintenance.

Methods

Ninety-six randomized controlled trials found using the medline and embase databases form the basis of this review.

Results

In the first-line setting, data about the efficacy of egfr tyrosine kinase inhibitors (tkis) compared with platinum-based chemotherapy are inconsistent. Results from studies that selected patients based on clinical characteristics are also mixed. There is high-quality evidence that an egfr tki is preferred over a platinum doublet as initial therapy for patients with an activating mutation of the EGFR gene. The egfr tkis are associated with a higher likelihood of response, longer progression-free survival, and improved quality of life. Multiple trials of second-line therapy have compared an egfr tki with chemotherapy. Meta-analysis of those data demonstrates similar progression-free and overall survival. There is consequently no preferred sequence for second-line egfr tki or second-line chemotherapy. The egfr tkis have also been evaluated as switch-maintenance therapy. No molecular marker could identify patients in whom a survival benefit was not observed; however, the magnitude of the benefit was modest.

Conclusions

Determination of EGFR mutation status is essential to making appropriate treatment decisions in patients with nsclc. Patients who are EGFR mutation–positive should be treated with an egfr tki as first-line therapy. An egfr tki is still appropriate therapy in patients who are EGFR wild-type, but the selected agent should be administered as second- or third-line therapy.     

免疫检查点抑制剂治疗非小细胞肺癌产生免疫相关不良反应和肺炎的特点及其危险因素分析

目的：探讨免疫检查点抑制剂(ICI)治疗非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)产生的免疫相关不良反应(irAE)及ICI相关肺炎(ICI-P)的特点及其危险影响因素。方法：回顾性分析2019年1月到2021年12月间在山西白求恩医院胸部肿瘤科接受至少1次ICI治疗的114例NSCLC患者的一般性资料和临床特征的基线特征、治疗细节和发生irAE、ICI-P的数据,分析患者临床特征与irAE及ICI-P的关系,分析ICI-P发生的危险因素。观察ICI-P患者临床特点和治疗效果。结果：114例接受ICI治疗的NSCLC患者中有48例(42.11%)发生68次irAE,整体和严重irAE的发生率分别是59.65%、9.65%;从高到低排列发生率(仅列出前四位)：消化系统>呼吸系统>皮肤>内分泌系统;使用信迪利单抗>度伐利尤单抗>卡瑞利珠单抗=帕博利珠单抗;临床特征中的年龄与irAE发生有关联。15例患者发生ICI-P,整体发生率为13.16%,占irAE患者的31.25%,其中4例为重症,占irAE数的8.33%、ICI-P数的26.66%;发生于联合治疗的多于单药治疗(73...     

Impact of tumor microenvironment on the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with EGFR‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer

We retrospectively investigated the impact of the tumor microenvironment (TME) on the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as first‐line treatment in 70 patients with advanced EGFR‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer and who were seen at Osaka City University Hospital (Osaka, Japan) between August 2013 and December 2017. Using immunohistochemical staining with 28‐8 and D7U8C Abs, the tumor proportion score was assessed for programmed cell death‐1 ligand‐1 (PD‐L1), as high (50% or more) or low (less than 50%), and ligand‐2 (PD‐L2) expression, respectively. The extent of CD8⁺ tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes was evaluated on a scale of 0‐3, with 0‐1 as low and 2‐3 as high. The TME of the 52 evaluable pretreatment specimens was categorized into 4 subtypes, according to the respective PD‐L1 tumor proportion and CD8⁺ scores, as follows: (a) high/high (13.5%, n = 7); (b) low/low (42.3%, n = 22); (c) high/low (17.3%, n = 9); and (d) low/high (26.9%, n = 14). Expression of PD‐L2 was significantly the highest in type 1 (57.1% vs 4.5% vs 11.1% vs 7.1%, respectively; P = .0090). Response rate was significantly the lowest in type 1 (14.3% vs 81.8% vs 66.7% vs 78.6%, respectively; P = .0085). Progression‐free survival was the shortest in type 1 and the longest in type 4 (median, 2.4 vs 11.3 vs 8.4 vs 17.5 months, respectively; P = .00000077). The efficacy of EGFR‐TKIs differed according to the TME, and the phenotype with high PD‐L1 and CD8⁺ expression might be the subset that would poorly benefit from such treatment.     

Alteration of the serum levels of the epidermal growth factor receptor and its ligands in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and head and neck carcinoma

Serum levels of the soluble epidermal growth factor receptor (sEGFR) and its ligands epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and amphiregulin (AR) were measured in healthy donors and patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and head and neck carcinoma (HNC). In NSCLC, we found sEGFR and EGF levels significantly lowered in patients with respect to healthy donors. In HNC patients, significantly diminished levels were found in the case of sEGFR, EGF and also AR. In both malignancies, no significant association was found between the serum levels of the molecules and the patients' gender, age or smoking habit. Only a significant association was found between the decrease of sEGFR and the absence of distant metastasis in NSCLC and the tumour stage in HNC. The most interesting result was that combining sEGFR and EGF, sensitivities of 88% in NSCLC and 100% in HNC were reached without losing specificity (97.8% in both cases). The use of discriminant analysis and logistic regression improved the sensitivity for NSCLC and the specificity for HNC. These data demonstrate a potentially interesting value of the serum levels of sEGFR and EGF, especially when combined, as markers for NSCLC and HNC.     

Dasatinib blocks cetuximab- and radiation-induced nuclear translocation of the epidermal growth factor receptor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background and purpose

The aberrant expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been linked to the etiology of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The first major phase III trial combining cetuximab with radiation confirmed a strong survival advantage. However, both cetuximab and radiation can promote EGFR translocation to the nucleus where it enhances resistance to both of these modalities. In this report we sought to determine how to block cetuximab- and radiation-induced translocation of EGFR to the nucleus in HNSCC cell lines.

Material and methods

We utilized three established HNSCC cell lines, SCC1, SCC6 and SCC1483 and measured nuclear translocation of EGFR after treatment with cetuximab or radiation. We then utilized dasatinib (BMS-354825), a potent, orally bioavailable inhibitor of several tyrosine kinases, including the Src family kinases, to determine if SFKs blockade could abrogate cetuximab- and radiation-induced nuclear EGFR translocation.

Results

Cetuximab and radiation treatment of all three HNSCC lines lead to translocation of the EGFR to the nucleus. Blockade of SFKs abrogated cetuximab- and radiation-induced EGFR translocation to the nucleus.

Conclusions

The data presented in this report suggest that both cetuximab and radiation can promote EGFR translocation to the nucleus and dasatinib can inhibit this process. Collectively these findings may suggest that dasatinib can limit EGFR translocation to the nucleus and may enhance radiotherapy plus cetuximab in HNSCC.