Therapeutic delivery of miR-200c enhances radiosensitivity in lung cancer

Mol Ther. 2014 Aug;22(8):1494-1503. doi: 10.1038/mt.2014.79. Epub 2014 May 5.

Abstract

The microRNA (miR)-200s and their negative regulator ZEB1 have been extensively studied in the context of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Loss of miR-200s has been shown to enhance cancer aggressiveness and metastasis, whereas replacement of miR-200 miRNAs has been shown to inhibit cell growth in several types of tumors, including lung cancer. Here, we reveal a novel function of miR-200c, a member of the miR-200 family, in regulating intracellular reactive oxygen species signaling and explore a potential application for its use in combination with therapies known to increase oxidative stress such as radiation. We found that miR-200c overexpression increased cellular radiosensitivity by direct regulation of the oxidative stress response genes PRDX2, GAPB/Nrf2, and SESN1 in ways that inhibits DNA double-strand breaks repair, increase levels of reactive oxygen species, and upregulate p21. We used a lung cancer xenograft model to further demonstrate the therapeutic potential of systemic delivery of miR-200c to enhance radiosensitivity in lung cancer. Our findings suggest that the antitumor effects of miR-200c result partially from its regulation of the oxidative stress response; they further suggest that miR-200c, in combination with radiation, could represent a therapeutic strategy in the future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / therapy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / metabolism*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / radiation effects

Substances

  • MIRN200 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
  • Reactive Oxygen Species