Novel Therapeutic Anti-ADAM17 Antibody A9(B8) Enhances EGFR-TKI-Mediated Anticancer Activity in NSCLC

Role of Epiregulin in Lung Tumorigenesis and Therapeutic Resistance

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling regulates multiple cellular processes and plays an essential role in tumorigenesis. Epiregulin (EREG), a member of the EGF family, binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ErbB4, and it stimulates EGFR-related downstream pathways. Increasing evidence indicates that both the aberrant expression and oncogenic function of EREG play pivotal roles in tumor development in many human cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EREG overexpression is induced by activating mutations in the EGFR, KRAS, and BRAF and contributes to the aggressive phenotypes of NSCLC with oncogenic drivers. Recent studies have elucidated the roles of EREG in a tumor microenvironment, including the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, immune evasion, and resistance to anticancer therapy. In this review, we summarized the current understanding of EREG as an oncogene and discussed its oncogenic role in lung tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance.

Discovery of 4-((3,4-dichlorophenyl)amino)-2-methylquinolin-6-ol derivatives as EGFR and HDAC dual inhibitors

In patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the standard therapy consists of selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors that target epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR). Nonetheless, their clinical utility is primarily limited by the development of resistance to drugs. HDAC inhibitors have been shown in studies to reduce the level of EGFR that is expressed and downregulate the EGFR-induced phosphorylation of AKT and ERK. Therefore, dual inhibitors of EGFR and HDAC provide a potential approach as combination treatment synergistically inhibited the growth of NSCLC. Herein, we examined the EGFR inhibition effect of twenty compounds which designed and synthesized by us previously. Among them, compounds 12c and 12d exhibited powerful antiproliferative activity against the NCI-H1975 cell line with IC50 values of 0.48 ± 0.07 and 0.35 ± 0.02 μM, correspondingly. In cell-free kinase assays, both 12c and 12d demonstrated target-specific EGFR inhibition against wild type (EGFRwt). Furthermore, the expression of EGFR and phosphorylation of the EGF-induced pathways were significantly suppressed under the treatment of 12c and 12d. Besides, both histones H3 and H4 exhibited increased levels of acetylation following 12c and 12d treatment. The animal experiments shown that 12d could prevent the growth of tumor, inhibited the expression of EGFR and the phosphorylation levels of p70 S6K, AKT and p38 MAPK in vivo, and did not cause organ damage to the mice during the experiment. Overall, the results illustrated that compound 12c and 12d could serve as effective EGFR and HDAC dual inhibitors in NSCLC cells. Our work offers an alternative strategy for NSCLC therapy.

Novel structured ADAM17 small-molecule inhibitor represses ADAM17/Notch pathway activation and the NSCLC cells' resistance to anti-tumour drugs

Background and aims: The outcomes of current treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are unsatisfactory and development of new and more efficacious therapeutic strategies are required. The Notch pathway, which is necessary for cell survival to avert apoptosis, induces the resistance of cancer cells to antitumour drugs. Notch pathway activation is controlled by the cleavage of Notch proteins/receptors mediated by A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17); therefore, ADAM17 is a reliable intervention target for anti-tumour therapy to overcome the drug resistance of cancer cells. This work aims to develop and elucidate the activation of Compound 2b, a novel-structured small-molecule inhibitor of ADAM17, which was designed and developed and its therapeutic efficacy in NSCLC was assessed via multi-assays. Methods and results: A lead compound for a potential inhibitor of ADAM17 was explored via pharmacophore modelling, molecular docking, and biochemical screening. It was augmented by substituting two important chemical groups [R1 and R2 of the quinoxaline-2,3-diamine (its chemical skeleton)]; subsequently, serial homologs of the lead compound were used to obtain anoptimized compound (2b) with high inhibitory activity compared with leading compound against ADAM17 to inhibit the cleavage of Notch proteins and the accumulation of the Notch intracellular domain in the nuclei of NSCLC cells. The inhibitory activity of compound 2b was demonstrated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. The specificity of compound 2b on ADAM17 was confirmed via point-mutation. Compound 2b enhanced the activation of antitumor drugs on NSCLC cells, in cell lines and nude mice models, by targeting the ADAM17/Notch pathway. Conclusion: Compound 2b may be a promising strategy for NSCLC treatment.

Immunomodulatory role of metalloproteinase ADAM17 in tumor development

ADAM17 is a member of the a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family of transmembrane proteases involved in the shedding of some cell membrane proteins and regulating various signaling pathways. More than 90 substrates are regulated by ADAM17, some of which are closely relevant to tumor formation and development. Besides, ADAM17 is also responsible for immune regulation and its substrate-mediated signal transduction. Recently, ADAM17 has been considered as a major target for the treatment of tumors and yet its immunomodulatory roles and mechanisms remain unclear. In this paper, we summarized the recent understanding of structure and several regulatory roles of ADAM17. Importantly, we highlighted the immunomodulatory roles of ADAM17 in tumor development, as well as small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies targeting ADAM17.

Association of Polymorphisms in Inflammation Genes With the Prognosis of Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

Background

Inflammation is not only involved in the development and progression of cancer but also affects the response to therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in inflammation genes with the prognosis of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

Methods

Forty-seven SNPs were genotyped in 318 advanced NSCLC patients receiving EGFR-TKIs. Of 318 patients, 182 (57.2%) patients died during follow-up period. We assessed the association of SNPs with the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) as well as calculated the weighted genetic risk score (GRS). We also explored the expression levels and prognostic values of inflammation genes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) in Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and using UCSC Xena, respectively. The relationship between the expression levels of IL15, IL17RA, AGER, MIF, and TNFRSF1A and EGFR mutation status was analyzed using UCSC Xena.

Results

In single variant analyses, 3 SNPs (rs10519613, rs4819554, and rs4149570) were significantly associated with worse PFS. Five SNPs (rs10519613, rs4819554, rs2070600, rs755622, and rs4149570) were significantly with worse OS. In addition, high and intermediate GRSs (based on rs10519613, rs4819554, and rs4149570) were associated with worse PFS than those with low GRS. For OS, patients with high GRSs (based on rs10519613, rs4819554, rs2070600, rs755622, and rs4149570) had shorter survival time than those with low GRS. Furthermore, IL15, IL17RA, AGER, MIF, and TNFRSF1A were dysregulated in LUAD. There was difference in the expression level of TNFRSF1A between EGFR wildtype and EGFR-mutant LUAD. Both low AGER expression and high TNFRSF1A expression were significantly associated with worse PFS in LUAD. In addition, low IL17RA and AGER expression, high MIF and TNFRSF1A expression were significantly associated with worse OS in LUAD.

Conclusion

SNPs in inflammation genes could serve as prognostic biomarkers for NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKIs.

Immune Responses to IAV Infection and the Roles of L-Selectin and ADAM17 in Lymphocyte Homing

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection is a global public health burden causing up to 650,000 deaths per year. Yearly vaccination programmes and anti-viral drugs currently have limited benefits; therefore, research into IAV is fundamental. Leukocyte trafficking is a crucial process which orchestrates the immune response to infection to protect the host. It involves several homing molecules and receptors on both blood vessels and leukocytes. A key mediator of this process is the transmembrane glycoprotein L-selectin, which binds to vascular addressins on blood vessel endothelial cells. L-selectin classically mediates homing of naïve and central memory lymphocytes to lymph nodes via high endothelial venules (HEVs). Recent studies have found that L-selectin is essential for homing of activated CD8⁺ T cells to influenza-infected lungs and reduction in virus load. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) is the primary regulator of cell surface levels of L-selectin. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate these two proteins are central to comprehending recruitment of T cells to sites of IAV infection. This review summarises the immune response to IAV infection in humans and mice and discusses the roles of L-selectin and ADAM17 in T lymphocyte homing during IAV infection.

Combined Radiochemotherapy: Metalloproteinases Revisited

Besides cytotoxic DNA damage irradiation of tumor cells triggers multiple intra- and intercellular signaling processes, that are part of a multilayered, treatment-induced stress response at the unicellular and tumor pathophysiological level. These processes are intertwined with intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms to the toxic effects of ionizing radiation and thereby co-determine the tumor response to radiotherapy. Proteolysis of structural elements and bioactive signaling moieties represents a major class of posttranslational modifications regulating intra- and intercellular communication. Plasma membrane-located and secreted metalloproteinases comprise a family of metal-, usually zinc-, dependent endopeptidases and sheddases with a broad variety of substrates including components of the extracellular matrix, cyto- and chemokines, growth and pro-angiogenic factors. Thereby, metalloproteinases play an important role in matrix remodeling and auto- and paracrine intercellular communication regulating tumor growth, angiogenesis, immune cell infiltration, tumor cell dissemination, and subsequently the response to cancer treatment. While metalloproteinases have long been identified as promising target structures for anti-cancer agents, previous pharmaceutical approaches mostly failed due to unwanted side effects related to the structural similarities among the multiple family members. Nevertheless, targeting of metalloproteinases still represents an interesting rationale alone and in combination with other treatment modalities. Here, we will give an overview on the role of metalloproteinases in the irradiated tumor microenvironment and discuss the therapeutic potential of using more specific metalloproteinase inhibitors in combination with radiotherapy.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of long non-coding RNAs involved in acquired resistance to gefitinib in non-small-cell lung cancer

Acquired resistance is a major obstacle to the therapeutic efficacy of gefitinib in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Current knowledge about the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in this phenomenon is insufficient. In this study, we searched RNA sequencing data for lncRNAs associated with acquired resistance to gefitinib in NSCLC, and constructed a functional lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network to analyze their putative target genes and biological functions. The expression levels of 14 outstanding dysregulated lncRNAs and mRNA were verified using real-time PCR. Changes in the expression levels of 39 lncRNAs and 121 mRNAs showed common patterns in our two pairs of gefitinib-sensitive and gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cell lines. The co-expression network included 1235 connections among these common differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs. The significantly enriched signaling pathways based on dysregulated mRNAs were mainly involved in the Hippo signaling pathway; proteoglycans in cancer; and valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis. The results show that LncRNAs play an important part in acquired gefitinib resistance in NSCLC by regulating mRNA expression and function, and may represent potential new molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets for gefitinib-resistant NSCLC.

Desmoglein-2 modulates tumor progression and osimertinib drug resistance through the EGFR/Src/PAK1 pathway in lung adenocarcinoma

Desmoglein-2 (DSG2), a member of the cadherin superfamily, has been implicated in cell-cell adhesion and tumorigenesis. Here, we demonstrate that high DSG2 expression in both lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cell lines and tissues is associated with poor prognosis in LUAD patients. Notably, DSG2 overexpression promoted cell proliferation and migration, and increased resistance to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor osimertinib, whereas DSG2 silencing could reverse these results. Moreover, direct interaction between DSG2 and EGFR in the cell membrane stimulated EGFR signaling to promote tumorigenesis, and loss of DSG2 resulted in EGFR translocation into the cytoplasm. In addition, DSG2 was required for EGFR binding to Src; consequently, DSG2 silencing inhibited tumor cell malignancy via suppression of the EGFR-Src-Rac1-PAK1 signaling pathway. Consistent with these findings, a nude mouse xenograft model using H1975 cells demonstrated that DSG2 promoted LUAD cell growth in vivo and increased osimertinib resistance. Collectively, these observations are the first to elucidate a unique role for DSG2 in the development and progression of lung adenocarcinoma via EGFR signaling.