Dual inhibition of EGFR and MET by Echinatin retards cell growth and induces apoptosis of lung cancer cells sensitive or resistant to gefitinib.

Abstract

Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) containing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) amplification or sensitive mutations initially respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib; however, the treatment is less effective over time. Gefitinib resistance mechanisms include MET gene amplification. A therapeutic strategy targeting MET as well as EGFR can overcome resistance to gefitinib. In the present study we identified Echinatin (Ecn), a characteristic chalcone in licorice, which inhibited both EGFR and MET and strongly altered NSCLC cell growth. The antitumor efficacy of Ecn against gefitinib-sensitive or -resistant NSCLC cells with EGFR mutations and MET amplification was confirmed by suppressing cell proliferation and anchorage-independent colony growth. During the targeting of EGFR and MET, Ecn significantly blocked the kinase activity, which was validated with competitive ATP binding. Inhibition of EGFR and MET by Ecn decreases the phosphorylation of downstream target proteins ERBB3, AKT and ERK compared with total protein expression or control. Ecn induced the G2/M cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis via the intrinsic pathway of caspase-dependent activation. Ecn induced ROS production and GRP78, CHOP, DR5 and DR4 expression as well as depolarized the mitochondria membrane potential. Therefore, our results suggest that Ecn is a promising therapeutic agent in NSCLC therapy.

• Authors: Ha-Na Oh, Mee-Hyun Lee, Eunae Kim, Ah-Won Kwak, Ji-Hye Seo, Goo Yoon, Seung-Sik Cho, Joon-Seok Choi, Sang-Myeong Lee, Kang-Seok Seo, Jung-Il Chae, Jung-Hyun Shim
• Journal: Phytotherapy research : PTR (Phytother Res) Vol. 34 Issue 2 Pg. 388-400 (Feb 2020) ISSN: 1099-1573 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 31698509 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical References

• Chalcones
• Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP
• HSPA5 protein, human
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors
• Quinazolines
• echinatin
• EGFR protein, human
• ErbB Receptors
• MET protein, human
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
• Gefitinib

Topics

• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (drug therapy, pathology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Chalcones (pharmacology)
• Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
• Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP
• ErbB Receptors (antagonists & inhibitors, genetics)
• Gefitinib (pharmacology)
• Glycyrrhiza (chemistry)
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Molecular Docking Simulation
• Plant Roots (chemistry)
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met (antagonists & inhibitors, genetics)
• Quinazolines (pharmacology)