BET inhibitors combined with chemotherapy synergistically inhibit the growth of NSCLC cells

  • Authors:
    • Xiao Zhou
    • Tong Sun
    • Yuting Meng
    • Juan Luo
    • Jun Chen
    • Bo Xia
    • Zuhao Zhang
    • Zhixiang Cheng
    • Xuerong Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 22, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2021.8021
  • Article Number: 70
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Abstract

The bromodomain and extra‑terminal domain (BET) family proteins are essential epigenetic regulators in lung cancer. However, BET inhibitors have not had the anticipated therapeutic efficacy. Combined treatment using BET inhibitors along with other drugs had favorable therapeutic effects but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antineoplastic effects and mechanisms of a combination of a BET inhibitor and paclitaxel or cisplatin in non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By using the online Kaplan‑Meier plotter, it was revealed that increased mRNA levels of several BET protein‑coding genes were associated with poor prognosis in NSCLC. SRB assay results revealed that pharmaceutical or genetic targeting of BET proteins suppressed the growth of NSCLC cells. Inhibition of BET protein expression, in combination with the use of chemotherapeutic drugs such as paclitaxel and cisplatin, further restrained NSCLC cell growth in a synergistic manner. Mechanistically, this combination of suppression of BET expression and chemotherapeutic treatment blocked NSCLC cell growth by inhibiting autophagy and promoting apoptosis, which were revealed by both western blot and ELISA results. The present findings revealed a new rationale for using a combination of BET inhibitors with chemotherapy in NSCLC treatment.
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May-2021
Volume 45 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Zhou X, Sun T, Meng Y, Luo J, Chen J, Xia B, Zhang Z, Cheng Z and Wang X: BET inhibitors combined with chemotherapy synergistically inhibit the growth of NSCLC cells. Oncol Rep 45: 70, 2021
APA
Zhou, X., Sun, T., Meng, Y., Luo, J., Chen, J., Xia, B. ... Wang, X. (2021). BET inhibitors combined with chemotherapy synergistically inhibit the growth of NSCLC cells. Oncology Reports, 45, 70. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2021.8021
MLA
Zhou, X., Sun, T., Meng, Y., Luo, J., Chen, J., Xia, B., Zhang, Z., Cheng, Z., Wang, X."BET inhibitors combined with chemotherapy synergistically inhibit the growth of NSCLC cells". Oncology Reports 45.5 (2021): 70.
Chicago
Zhou, X., Sun, T., Meng, Y., Luo, J., Chen, J., Xia, B., Zhang, Z., Cheng, Z., Wang, X."BET inhibitors combined with chemotherapy synergistically inhibit the growth of NSCLC cells". Oncology Reports 45, no. 5 (2021): 70. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2021.8021