DGG-100629 inhibits lung cancer growth by suppressing the NFATc1/DDIAS/STAT3 pathway

Exp Mol Med. 2021 Apr;53(4):643-653. doi: 10.1038/s12276-021-00601-2. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

Abstract

DNA damage-induced apoptosis suppressor (DDIAS) promotes the progression of lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma through the regulation of multiple pathways. We screened a chemical library for anticancer agent(s) capable of inhibiting DDIAS transcription. DGG-100629 was found to suppress lung cancer cell growth through the inhibition of DDIAS expression. DGG-100629 induced c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) activation and inhibited NFATc1 nuclear translocation. Treatment with SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) or knockdown of JNK1 restored DDIAS expression and reversed DGG-100629-induced cell death. In addition, DGG-100629 suppressed the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) signaling pathway. DDIAS or STAT3 overexpression restored lung cancer cell growth in the presence of DGG-100629. In a xenograft assay, DGG-100629 inhibited tumor growth by reducing the level of phosphorylated STAT3 and the expression of STAT3 target genes. Moreover, DGG-100629 inhibited the growth of lung cancer patient-derived gefitinib-resistant cells expressing NFATc1 and DDIAS. Our findings emphasize the potential of DDIAS blockade as a therapeutic approach and suggest a novel strategy for the treatment of gefitinib-resistant lung cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • NFATC Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DDIAS protein, human
  • NFATC Transcription Factors
  • NFATC1 protein, human
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4