Open Access

GLI1 activation is a key mechanism of erlotinib resistance in human non‑small cell lung cancer

  • Authors:
    • Zhouhuan Dong
    • Yun Wang
    • Vivianne Ding
    • Xiang Yan
    • Yali Lv
    • Mei Zhong
    • Fengwei Zhu
    • Po Zhao
    • Charlotte He
    • Feng Ding
    • Huaiyin Shi
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 31, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11937
  • Article Number: 76
  • Copyright: © Dong et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer‑associated death worldwide. In recent years, the advancement of epidermal growth factor receptor‑tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR‑TKI) targeted therapies has provided clinical benefits for lung cancer patients with EGFR mutations. The response to EGFR‑TKI varies in patients with lung cancer, and resistance typically develops during the course of the treatment. Therefore, understanding biomarkers which can predict resistance to EGFR‑TKI is important. Overexpression of GLI causes activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway and plays a critical role in oncogenesis in numerous types of cancer. In the present study, the role of GLI1 in erlotinib resistance was investigated. GLI1 mRNA and protein expression levels were determined using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in lung cancer cell lines and tumor specimens, respectively. GLI1 mRNA expression levels were found to be positively correlated with the IC50 of erlotinib in 15 non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. The downregulation of GLI1 using siRNA sensitized lung cancer cells to the erlotinib treatment, whereas the overexpression of GLI1 increased the survival of lung cancer cells in the presence of erlotinib, indicating that Hh/GLI activation may play a critical role in the development of TKI resistance in lung cancer. Combined treatment with erlotinib and a GLI1 inhibitor reduced the cell viability synergistically. A retrospective study of patients with NSCLC treated with erlotinib revealed that those with a high IHC score for GLI1 protein expression had a poorer prognosis. These results indicated that GLI1 is a key regulator for TKI sensitivity, and patients with lung cancer may benefit from the combined treatment of TKI and GLI1 inhibitor.
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October-2020
Volume 20 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Dong Z, Wang Y, Ding V, Yan X, Lv Y, Zhong M, Zhu F, Zhao P, He C, Ding F, Ding F, et al: GLI1 activation is a key mechanism of erlotinib resistance in human non‑small cell lung cancer. Oncol Lett 20: 76, 2020
APA
Dong, Z., Wang, Y., Ding, V., Yan, X., Lv, Y., Zhong, M. ... Shi, H. (2020). GLI1 activation is a key mechanism of erlotinib resistance in human non‑small cell lung cancer. Oncology Letters, 20, 76. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11937
MLA
Dong, Z., Wang, Y., Ding, V., Yan, X., Lv, Y., Zhong, M., Zhu, F., Zhao, P., He, C., Ding, F., Shi, H."GLI1 activation is a key mechanism of erlotinib resistance in human non‑small cell lung cancer". Oncology Letters 20.4 (2020): 76.
Chicago
Dong, Z., Wang, Y., Ding, V., Yan, X., Lv, Y., Zhong, M., Zhu, F., Zhao, P., He, C., Ding, F., Shi, H."GLI1 activation is a key mechanism of erlotinib resistance in human non‑small cell lung cancer". Oncology Letters 20, no. 4 (2020): 76. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11937