Expression of ARL4C in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Its Role in EGFR-TKI Resistance

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of ARL4C in NSCLC and its correlation with clinicopathological features, as well as its role in EGFR-TKI resistance. Methods We collected the tumor and adjacent tissues of 63 NSCLC patients. The mRNA expression of ARL4C was detected by qRT-PCR and the relation between ARL4C and clinicopathological features was analyzed. The expressions of ARL4C in TKI-resistant cell line, control cell line and ARL4C overexpressing cell line were assessed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The changes of cell activity and IC50 were detected by MTS. Transwell invasion assay was used to detect the effect of ARL4C expression on cell invasion. Results The expression level of ARL4C in NSCLC tissues was lower than that in adjacent tissues (P < 0.05). The expression of ARL4C in NSCLC was closely related to lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and pulmonary membrane invasion (P < 0.05). Compared with control cell line HCC827, the expression levels of ARL4C mRNA and protein in TKI-resistant cell line HCC827/ER and the IC50 of ARL4C overexpressing TKI-resistant cell line HCC827/ER/ARL4C-OE were significantly lower (P < 0.05). Transwell assay results showed that the overexpression of ARL4C inhibited the invasion of lung cancer cell line (P < 0.05). Conclusion The abnormal expression of ARL4C is closely related to lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and pulmonary membrane invasion of NSCLC. Overexpression of ARL4C may improve the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to EGFR-TKI and inhibit the invasion of NSCLC cells.

Keywords

• arl4c
• non-small cell lung cancer
• egfr-tki
• acquired drug resistance