Nanotechnology-based approaches overcome lung cancer drug resistance through diagnosis and treatment

Circulating tumor cells with increasing aneuploidy predict inferior prognosis and therapeutic resistance in small cell lung cancer

AIMS

Treatment resistance commonly emerges in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), necessitating the development of novel and effective biomarkers to dynamically assess therapeutic efficacy. This study aims to evaluate the clinical utility of aneuploid circulating tumor cells (CTCs) for risk stratification and treatment response monitoring.

METHODS

A total of 126 SCLC patients (two cohorts) from two independent cancer centers were recruited as the study subjects. Blood samples were collected from these patients and aneuploid CTCs were detected. Aneuploid CTC count (ACC) and aneuploid CTC score (ACS), were used to predict progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The performance of the ACC and the ACS was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC).

RESULTS

Compared to ACC, ACS exhibited superior predictive power for PFS and OS in these 126 patients. Moreover, both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that ACS was an independent prognostic factor. Dynamic ACS changes reflected treatment response, which is more precise than ACC changes. ACS can be used to assess chemotherapy resistance and is more sensitive than radiological examination (with a median lead time of 2.8 months; P < 0.001). When patients had high ACS levels (> 1.115) at baseline, the combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy resulted in longer PFS (median PFS, 7.7 months; P = 0.007) and OS (median OS, 16.3 months; P = 0.033) than chemotherapy alone (median PFS, 4.9 months; median OS, 13.6 months).

CONCLUSIONS

ACS could be used as a biomarker for risk stratification, treatment response monitoring, and individualized therapeutic intervention in SCLC patients.

Enigmatic exosomal connection in lung cancer drug resistance

Lung cancer remains a significant global health concern with limited treatment options and poor prognosis, particularly in advanced stages. Small extracellular vesicles such as exosomes, secreted by cancer cells, play a pivotal role in mediating drug resistance in lung cancer. Exosomes have been found to facilitate intercellular communication by transferring various biomolecules between cancer cells and their microenvironment. Additionally, exosomes can transport signaling molecules promoting cancer cell survival and proliferation conferring resistance to chemotherapy. Moreover, exosomes can modulate the tumor microenvironment by inducing phenotypic changes hindering drug response. Understanding the role of exosomes in mediating drug resistance in lung cancer is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies and biomarkers to overcome treatment limitations. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on conventional and emerging drug resistance mechanisms and the involvement of exosomes as well as exosome-mediated factors mediating drug resistance in lung cancer.

Strategies and Recent Advances on Improving Efficient Antitumor of Lenvatinib Based on Nanoparticle Delivery System

Lenvatinib (LVN) is a potentially effective multiple-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for treating hepatocellular carcinoma, metastatic renal cell carcinoma and thyroid cancer. Nonetheless, poor pharmacokinetic properties including poor water solubility and rapid metabolic, complex tumor microenvironment, and drug resistance have impeded its satisfactory therapeutic efficacy. This article comprehensively reviews the uses of nanotechnology in LVN to improve antitumor effects. With the characteristic of high modifiability and loading capacity of the nano-drug delivery system, an active targeting approach, controllable drug release, and biomimetic strategies have been devised to deliver LVN to target tumors in sequence, compensating for the lack of passive targeting. The existing applications and advances of LVN in improving therapeutic efficacy include improving longer-term efficiency, achieving higher efficiency, combination therapy, tracking and diagnosing application and reducing toxicity. Therefore, using multiple strategies combined with photothermal, photodynamic, and immunoregulatory therapies potentially overcomes multi-drug resistance, regulates unfavorable tumor microenvironment, and yields higher synergistic antitumor effects. In brief, the nano-LVN delivery system has brought light to the war against cancer while at the same time improving the antitumor effect. More intelligent and multifunctional nanoparticles should be investigated and further converted into clinical applications in the future.

"On/off"-switchable crosslinked PTX-nanoformulation with improved precise delivery for NSCLC brain metastases and restrained adverse reaction over nab-PTX

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brain metastases present a significant treatment challenge due to limited drug delivery efficiency and severe adverse reactions. In this study, we address these challenges by designing a "on/off" switchable crosslinked paclitaxel (PTX) nanocarrier, BPM-PD, with novel ultra-pH-sensitive linkages (pH 6.8 to 6.5). BPM-PD demonstrates a distinct "on/off" switchable release of the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) in response to the acidic extratumoral microenvironment. The "off" state of BPM-PD@PTX effectively prevents premature drug release in the blood circulation, blood-brain barrier (BBB)/blood-tumor barrier (BTB), and normal brain tissue, surpassing the clinical PTX-nanoformulation (nab-PTX). Meanwhile, the "on" state facilitates precise delivery to NSCLC brain metastases cells. Compared to nab-PTX, BPM-PD@PTX demonstrates improved therapeutic efficacy with a reduced tumor area (only 14.6%) and extended survival duration, while mitigating adverse reactions (over 83.7%) in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), offering a promising approach for the treatment of NSCLC brain metastases. The precise molecular switch also helped to increase the PTX maximum tolerated dose from 25 mg/kg to 45 mg/kg This research contributes to the field of cancer therapeutics and has significant implications for improving the clinical outcomes of NSCLC patients.

Aptamer AS411 interacts with the KRAS promoter/hnRNP A1 complex and shows increased potency against drug-resistant lung cancer

G-quadruplex (G4) aptamers that can competitively binding protein with oncogene promoter G4 hold promise for cancer treatment. In this study, a neutral cytidinyl lipid, DNCA, was shown to transfect and deliver G4 aptamers (AS1411, TBA) into tumour cells, including multidrug-resistant tumour cells, and their nuclear localizations were clearly detected. Both AS1411/DNCA and TBA/DNCA showed excellent antitumour efficacies in the drug-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549/TXL at a low concentration (100 nM). Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) was identified as a new target of AS1411 and TBA. The binding affinities were measured, and the Kd values of AS1411/hnRNP A1 and TBA/hnRNP A1 were 17.5 nM and 21.1 nM, respectively. Then the expression of KRAS mRNA in A549/TXL cells was found to be higher than that in A549 cells, and KRAS mRNA was reduced by approximately 40% after administration of AS1411 or TBA in A549/TXL cells. Further, it was confirmed for the first time that AS1411 targeted not only hnRNP A1 but also the KRAS promoter/hnRNP A1 complexes. And although TBA cannot target the KRAS promoter/hnRNP A1 complexes, the biolayer interferometry (BLI) experiment showed that TBA and AS1411 have similar effects on several key proteins in tumour cells, especially hnRNP A1. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation showed that AS1411 and the KRAS promoter bound to the same domain of hnRNP A1 protein, while TBA bound to another domain.

Inorganic nanoparticle-cored dendrimers for biomedical applications: A review

Hybrid nanostructures exhibit a synergistic combination of features derived from their individual components, showcasing novel characteristics resulting from their distinctive structure and chemical/physical properties. Surface modifiers play a pivotal role in shaping INPs' primary attributes, influencing their physicochemical properties, stability, and functional applications. Among these modifiers, dendrimers have gained attention as highly effective multifunctional agents for INPs, owing to their unique structural qualities, dendritic effects, and physicochemical properties. Dendrimers can be seamlessly integrated with diverse inorganic nanostructures, including metal NPs, carbon nanostructures, silica NPs, and QDs. Two viable approaches to achieving this integration involve either growing or grafting dendrimers, resulting in inorganic nanostructure-cored dendrimers. The initial step involves functionalizing the nanostructures' surface, followed by the generation of dendrimers through stepwise growth or attachment of pre-synthesized dendrimer branches. This hybridization imparts superior qualities to the resulting structure, including biocompatibility, solubility, high cargo loading capacity, and substantial functionalization potential. Combining the unique properties of dendrimers with those of the inorganic nanostructure cores creates a multifunctional system suitable for diverse applications such as theranostics, bio-sensing, component isolation, chemotherapy, and cargo-carrying applications. This review summarizes the recent developments, with a specific focus on the last five years, within the realm of dendrimers. It delves into their role as modifiers of INPs and explores the potential applications of INP-cored dendrimers in the biomedical applications.

Recent advances in 3D bioprinting for cancer research: From precision models to personalized therapies

Cancer remains one of the most devastating diseases, necessitating innovative and precise therapeutic solutions. The emergence of 3D bioprinting has revolutionized the platform of cancer therapy by offering bespoke solutions for drug screening, tumor modeling, and personalized medicine. The utilization of 3D bioprinting enables the fabrication of complex tumor models that closely mimic the in vivo microenvironment, facilitating more accurate drug testing and personalized treatment strategies. Moreover, 3D bioprinting also provides a platform for the development of implantable scaffolds as a therapeutic solution to cancer. In this review, we highlight the application of 3D bioprinting for cancer therapy along with current advancements in cancer 3D model development with recent case studies.

EP300 regulates the SLC16A1-AS1-AS1/TCF3 axis to promote lung cancer malignancies through the Wnt signaling pathway

Objective

To investigate the regulatory mechanism of EP300 in the interaction between SLC16A1-AS1 and TCF3 to activate the Wnt pathway, thereby promoting malignant progression in lung cancer.

Methods

In lung cancer cell lines, SLC16A1-AS1 was knocked down, and the impact of this knockdown on the malignant progression of lung cancer cells was assessed through clonogenic assays, Transwell assays, and apoptosis experiments. The regulatory relationship between EP300 and SLC16A1-AS1 was investigated through bioinformatic analysis and ChIP experiments. The expression of SLC16A1-AS1 and TCF3 in 56 paired lung cancer tissues was examined using RT-qPCR, and their correlation was analyzed. The interaction between TCF3 and SLC16A1-AS1 was explored through bioinformatic analysis and CoIP experiments. Activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was assessed by detecting the accumulation of β-catenin in the nucleus through Western blotting. The role of EP300 in regulating the effect of SLC16A1-AS1/TCF3-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling on lung cancer malignant progression was validated through in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Results

SLC16A1-AS1 is highly expressed in lung cancer and regulates its malignant progression. EP300 mediates histone modifications on the SLC16A1-AS1 promoter, thus controlling its expression. SLC16A1-AS1 exhibits specific interactions with TCF3, and the SLC16A1-AS1/TCF3 complex activates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. EP300 plays a critical role in regulating the impact of SLC16A1-AS1/TCF3-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling on lung cancer malignant progression.

Conclusion

EP300 regulates the SLC16A1-AS1/TCF3-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, influencing the malignant progression of lung cancer.

RNA therapeutics for respiratory diseases

It has become increasingly common to utilize RNA treatment to treat respiratory illnesses. Experimental research on both people and animals has advanced quickly since the turn of the twenty-first century in an effort to discover a treatment for respiratory ailments that could not be accomplished with earlier techniques, specifically in treating prevalent respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), respiratory infections caused by viruses, and asthma. This chapter has provided a comprehensive overview of the scientific evidence in applying RNA therapy to treat respiratory diseases. The chapter describes the development of this therapy for respiratory diseases. At the same time, the types of RNA therapy for respiratory diseases have been highlighted. In addition, the mechanism of this therapy for respiratory diseases has also been covered. These insights are indispensable if this therapy is to be developed widely.

Anti-tumor therapy of glycyrrhetinic acid targeted liposome co-delivery of doxorubicin and berberine for hepatocellular carcinoma

During the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatic stellate cells undergo activation and transform into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) due to the influence of tumor cells. The interaction between CAFs and tumor cells can compromise the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs and promote tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. This study explores the potential of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)-modified liposomes (lip-GA) as a strategy for co-delivery of berberine (Ber) and doxorubicin (Dox) to treat HCC. The characterizations of liposomes, including particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, stability and in vitro drug release, were investigated. The study evaluated the anti-proliferation and anti-migration effects of Dox&Ber@lip-GA on the Huh-7 + LX-2 cell model were through MTT and wound-healing assays. Additionally, the in vivo drug distribution and anti-tumor efficacy were investigated using the H22 + NIH-3T3-bearing mouse model. The results indicated that Dox&Ber@lip-GA exhibited a nanoscale particle size, accumulated specifically in the tumor region, and was efficiently taken up by tumor cells. Compared to other groups, Dox&Ber@lip-GA demonstrated higher cytotoxicity and lower migration rates. Additionally, it significantly reduced the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) and inhibited tumor angiogenesis, thereby suppressing tumor growth. In conclusion, Dox&Ber@lip-GA exhibited superior anti-tumor effects both in vitro and in vivo, highlighting its potential as an effective therapeutic strategy for combating HCC.

Graphene Oxide (GO) for the Treatment of Bone Cancer: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Cancer is a severe disease that, in 2022, caused more than 9.89 million deaths worldwide. One worrisome type of cancer is bone cancer, such as osteosarcoma and Ewing tumors, which occur more frequently in infants. This study shows an active interest in the use of graphene oxide and its derivatives in therapy against bone cancer. We present a systematic review analyzing the current state of the art related to the use of GO in treating osteosarcoma, through evaluating the existing literature. In this sense, studies focused on GO-based nanomaterials for potential applications against osteosarcoma were reviewed, which has revealed that there is an excellent trend toward the use of GO-based nanomaterials, based on their thermal and anti-cancer activities, for the treatment of osteosarcoma through various therapeutic approaches. However, more research is needed to develop highly efficient localized therapies. It is suggested, therefore, that photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and the use of nanocarriers should be considered as non-invasive, more specific, and efficient alternatives in the treatment of osteosarcoma. These options present promising approaches to enhance the effectiveness of therapy while also seeking to reduce side effects and minimize the damage to surrounding healthy tissues. The bibliometric analysis of photothermal and photochemical treatments of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide from January 2004 to December 2022 extracted 948 documents with its search strategy, mainly related to research papers, review papers, and conference papers, demonstrating a high-impact field supported by the need for more selective and efficient bone cancer therapies. The central countries leading the research are the United States, Iran, Italy, Germany, China, South Korea, and Australia, with strong collaborations worldwide. At the same time, the most-cited papers were published in journals with impact factors of more than 6.0 (2021), with more than 290 citations. Additionally, the journals that published the most on the topic are high impact factor journals, according to the analysis performed, demonstrating the high impact of the research field.

Nanomedicine Combats Drug Resistance in Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second most prevalent cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Surgery, chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy are currently available as treatment methods. However, drug resistance is a significant factor in the failure of lung cancer treatments. Novel therapeutics have been exploited to address complicated resistance mechanisms of lung cancer and the advancement of nanomedicine is extremely promising in terms of overcoming drug resistance. Nanomedicine equipped with multifunctional and tunable physiochemical properties in alignment with tumor genetic profiles can achieve precise, safe, and effective treatment while minimizing or eradicating drug resistance in cancer. Here, this work reviews the discovered resistance mechanisms for lung cancer chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy, and outlines novel strategies for the development of nanomedicine against drug resistance. This work focuses on engineering design, customized delivery, current challenges, and clinical translation of nanomedicine in the application of resistant lung cancer.

Optimized DOX Drug Deliveries via Chitosan-Mediated Nanoparticles and Stimuli Responses in Cancer Chemotherapy: A Review

Chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) serve as useful multidrug delivery carriers in cancer chemotherapy. Chitosan has considerable potential in drug delivery systems (DDSs) for targeting tumor cells. Doxorubicin (DOX) has limited application due to its resistance and lack of specificity. Chitosan NPs have been used for DOX delivery because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, drug encapsulation efficiency, and target specificity. In this review, various types of chitosan derivatives are discussed in DDSs to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments. Modified chitosan-DOX NP drug deliveries with other compounds also increase the penetration and efficiency of DOX against tumor cells. We also highlight the endogenous stimuli (pH, redox, enzyme) and exogenous stimuli (light, magnetic, ultrasound), and their positive effect on DOX drug delivery via chitosan NPs. Our study sheds light on the importance of chitosan NPs for DOX drug delivery in cancer treatment and may inspire the development of more effective approaches for cancer chemotherapy.

Effusanin B Inhibits Lung Cancer by Prompting Apoptosis and Inhibiting Angiogenesis

Cancer is one of the deadliest human diseases, causing high rates of illness and death. Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate among all malignancies worldwide. Effusanin B, a diterpenoid derived from Isodon serra, showed therapeutic potential in treating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Further research on the mechanism indicated that effusanin B inhibited the proliferation and migration of A549 cells both in vivo and in vitro. The in vitro activity assay demonstrated that effusanin B exhibited significant anticancer activity. Effusanin B induced apoptosis, promoted cell cycle arrest, increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and altered the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Based on mechanistic studies, effusanin B was found to inhibit the proliferation and migration of A549 cells by affecting the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathways. Moreover, effusanin B inhibited tumor growth and spread in a zebrafish xenograft model and demonstrated anti-angiogenic effects in a transgenic zebrafish model.

Cell membrane-camouflaged bufalin targets NOD2 and overcomes multidrug resistance in pancreatic cancer

AIMS

Multidrug resistance in pancreatic cancer poses a significant challenge in clinical treatment. Bufalin (BA), a compound found in secretions from the glands of toads, may help overcome this problem. However, severe cardiotoxicity thus far has hindered its clinical application. Hence, the present study aimed to develop a cell membrane-camouflaged and BA-loaded polylactic-co-glycolic acid nanoparticle (CBAP) and assess its potential to counter chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

The toxicity of CBAP was evaluated by electrocardiogram, body weight, distress score, and nesting behavior of mice. In addition, the anticarcinoma activity and underlying mechanism were investigated both in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

CBAP significantly mitigated BA-mediated acute cardiotoxicity and enhanced the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer to several clinical drugs, such as gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, and FOLFIRINOX. Mechanistically, CBAP directly bound to nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain containing protein 2 (NOD2) and inhibited the expression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells. This inhibits the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporters, which are responsible for chemoresistance in cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that CBAP directly inhibits NOD2. Combining CBAP with standard-of-care chemotherapeutics represents a safe and efficient strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Nano-engineering nanomedicines with customized functions for tumor treatment applications

Nano-engineering with unique "custom function" capability has shown great potential in solving technical difficulties of nanomaterials in tumor treatment. Through tuning the size and surface properties controllablly, nanoparticles can be endoewd with tailored structure, and then the characteristic functions to improve the therapeutic effect of nanomedicines. Based on nano-engineering, many have been carried out to advance nano-engineering nanomedicine. In this review, the main research related to cancer therapy attached to the development of nanoengineering nanomedicines has been presented as follows. Firstly, therapeutic agents that target to tumor area can exert the therapeutic effect effectively. Secondly, drug resistance of tumor cells can be overcome to enhance the efficacy. Thirdly, remodeling the immunosuppressive microenvironment makes the therapeutic agents work with the autoimmune system to eliminate the primary tumor and then prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis. Finally, the development prospects of nano-engineering nanomedicine are also outlined.

Nanotechnology boosts the efficiency of tumor diagnosis and therapy

The incidence and mortality of cancer are gradually increasing. The highly invasive and metastasis of tumor cells increase the difficulty of diagnosis and treatment, so people pay more and more attention to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Conventional treatment methods, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, are difficult to eliminate tumor cells completely. And the emergence of nanotechnology has boosted the efficiency of tumor diagnosis and therapy. Herein, the research progress of nanotechnology used for tumor diagnosis and treatment is reviewed, and the emerging detection technology and the application of nanodrugs in clinic are summarized and prospected. The first part refers to the application of different nanomaterials for imaging in vivo and detection in vitro, which includes magnetic resonance imaging, fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging and biomarker detection. The distinctive physical and chemical advantages of nanomaterials can improve the detection sensitivity and accuracy to achieve tumor detection in early stage. The second part is about the nanodrug used in clinic for tumor treatment. Nanomaterials have been widely used as drug carriers, including the albumin paclitaxel, liposome drugs, mRNA-LNP, protein nanocages, micelles, membrane nanocomplexes, microspheres et al., which could improve the drug accumulate in tumor tissue through enhanced permeability and retention effect to kill tumor cells with high efficiency. But there are still some challenges to revolutionize traditional tumor diagnosis and anti-drug resistance based on nanotechnology.

Applications of nanotechnologies for miRNA-based cancer therapeutics: current advances and future perspectives

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short (18-25 nt), non-coding, widely conserved RNA molecules responsible for regulating gene expression via sequence-specific post-transcriptional mechanisms. Since the human miRNA transcriptome regulates the expression of a number of tumor suppressors and oncogenes, its dysregulation is associated with the clinical onset of different types of cancer. Despite the fact that numerous therapeutic approaches have been designed in recent years to treat cancer, the complexity of the disease manifested by each patient has prevented the development of a highly effective disease management strategy. However, over the past decade, artificial miRNAs (i.e., anti-miRNAs and miRNA mimics) have shown promising results against various cancer types; nevertheless, their targeted delivery could be challenging. Notably, numerous reports have shown that nanotechnology-based delivery of miRNAs can greatly contribute to hindering cancer initiation and development processes, representing an innovative disease-modifying strategy against cancer. Hence, in this review, we evaluate recently developed nanotechnology-based miRNA drug delivery systems for cancer therapeutics and discuss the potential challenges and future directions, such as the promising use of plant-made nanoparticles, phytochemical-mediated modulation of miRNAs, and nanozymes.

Circular RNAs in gynecologic cancers: mechanisms and implications for chemotherapy resistance

Chemotherapy resistance remains a major challenge in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies. Increasing evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a significant role in conferring chemoresistance in these cancers. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms by which circRNAs regulate chemotherapy sensitivity and resistance in gynecologic malignancies. We also discuss the potential clinical implications of these findings and highlight areas for future research. CircRNAs are a novel class of RNA molecules that are characterized by their unique circular structure, which confers increased stability and resistance to degradation by exonucleases. Recent studies have shown that circRNAs can act as miRNA sponges, sequestering miRNAs and preventing them from binding to their target mRNAs. This can lead to upregulation of genes involved in drug resistance pathways, ultimately resulting in decreased sensitivity to chemotherapy. We discuss several specific examples of circRNAs that have been implicated in chemoresistance in gynecologic cancers, including cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. We also highlight the potential clinical applications of circRNA-based biomarkers for predicting chemotherapy response and guiding treatment decisions. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the role of circRNAs in chemotherapy resistance in gynecologic malignancies. By elucidating the underlying mechanisms by which circRNAs regulate drug sensitivity, this work has important implications for improving patient outcomes and developing more effective therapeutic strategies for these challenging cancers.

Inhibition of GPR30 sensitized gefitinib to NSCLC cells via regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Introduction: G-protein coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) is associated with cell metastasis and drug resistance in many different cancer cells. The present study aimed to reveal the sensitivity of GPR30 to gefitinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.Methods: Cell viability and proliferation were detected using cell counting kit 8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays, respectively. Western blotting and quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR were used to detect GPR30 or epithelial-mesenchyme transition (EMT)-related mRNA and protein expression.Results: The results showed that GPR30 expression is associated with gefitinib sensitivity. G15, as a GPR30 antagonist, reduced GPR30 expression. We chose the maximum concentration of G15 with minimal cytotoxicity to detect cell viability after combined treatment with gefitinib in NSCLC cells, which indicated that G15 could increase sensitivity to gefitinib. However, the effect of G15 on gefitinib sensitivity disappeared after treatment with a small interfering RNA targeting GPR30. Further research showed that G15 or GPR30 siRNA treatment could upregulate E-cadherin and downregulate vimentin levels.Conclusion: Taken together, these data suggested that G15 could enhance NSCLC sensitivity to gefitinib by inhibition of GPR30 and EMT.