TBL1XR1 is involved in c-Met-mediated tumorigenesis of human nonsmall cell lung cancer

Cancer Gene Ther. 2020 Apr;27(3-4):136-146. doi: 10.1038/s41417-019-0111-0. Epub 2019 Jun 27.

Abstract

Nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) contributes to the highest number of cancer deaths globally. Metastases and chemoresistance are two major confounders to the treatment efficacy in NSCLC. Transducin (β)-like 1 X-linked receptor 1 (TBL1XR1) has been associated with high rates of metastases in breast, gastric, and stomach cancers. However, the role of TBL1XR1 in lung cancers remains underexplored. We selected matched and cancerous lung tissues to establish the upregulation of TBL1XR1. Using in vitro assays, we assessed the influence of TBL1XR1 on various cancer phenotypes, namely cell proliferation, chemoresistance, invasion, and metastases in a CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knock out model (A549 cells), and H460 cell lines overexpressing TBL1XR1. We found that TBL1XR1 is overexpressed in NSCLC tissue and patient sera in comparison to paired adjacent normal tissue. Overexpression of TBL1XR1 in NSCLC cell lines mediates cell survival, proliferation, and metastases. TBL1XR1 was found to regulate MEK and Akt pathways through their master regulator c-Met. We observed that activation of c-Met is downregulated in the absence of TBL1XR1. Our study strengthens the contention that TBL1XR1 is a biomarker for prognosis of NSCLC. It may also be considered as an adjunct or core therapeutic target to overcome cisplatin resistance in lung cancers.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / therapy
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / methods
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology
  • Cisplatin / therapeutic use
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Humans
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung / surgery
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / genetics
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / metabolism*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • Repressor Proteins
  • TBL1XR1 protein, human
  • MET protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
  • Cisplatin