Targeting the COX2/MET/TOPK signaling axis induces apoptosis in gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cells

Cell Death Dis. 2019 Oct 14;10(10):777. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-2020-4.

Abstract

MET overactivation is one of the crucial reasons for tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance, but the mechanisms are not wholly clear. Here, COX2, TOPK, and MET expression were examined in EGFR-activating mutated NSCLC by immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. The relationship between COX2, TOPK, and MET was explored in vitro and ex vivo. In addition, the inhibition of HCC827GR cell growth by combining COX2 inhibitor (celecoxib), TOPK inhibitor (pantoprazole), and gefitinib was verified ex vivo and in vivo. We found that COX2 and TOPK were highly expressed in EGFR-activating mutated NSCLC and the progression-free survival (PFS) of triple-positive (COX2, MET, and TOPK) patients was shorter than that of triple-negative patients. Then, we observed that the COX2-TXA2 signaling pathway modulated MET through AP-1, resulting in an inhibition of apoptosis in gefitinib-resistant cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that MET could phosphorylate TOPK at Tyr74 and then prevent apoptosis in gefitinib-resistant cells. In line with these findings, the combination of celecoxib, pantoprazole, and gefitinib could induce apoptosis in gefitinib-resistant cells and inhibit tumor growth ex vivo and in vivo. Our work reveals a novel COX2/MET/TOPK signaling axis that can prevent apoptosis in gefitinib-resistant cells and suggests that a triple combination of FDA-approved drugs would provide a low-cost and practical strategy to overcome gefitinib resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Celecoxib / pharmacology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / drug effects
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
  • Female
  • Gefitinib / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / genetics*
  • Pantoprazole / pharmacology
  • Progression-Free Survival
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Pantoprazole
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • MET protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • PDZ-binding kinase
  • Celecoxib
  • Gefitinib