Summary of the proceedings from the 10th annual meeting of molecularly targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Smoking alters the evolutionary trajectory of non-small cell lung cancer

Smoking is the biggest risk factor for lung cancer. Smokers have a much higher chance of developing lung tumors with a worse survival rate; however, non-smokers also develop lung tumors. A number of questions remain including the underlying difference between smoker and non-smoker lung cancer patients and the involvement of genetic and epigenetic processes in tumor development. The present study analyzed the mutation data of 100 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, 12 non-smokers, 48 ex-smokers and 40 smokers, from Tracking Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Evolution through Therapy Consortium. A total of 68 genes exhibited different mutation patterns across non-smokers, ex-smokers and smokers. A number of these 68 genes encode membrane proteins with biological regulation, metabolic process, and response to stimulus functions. For each group of patients, the top 10 most frequently mutated genes were selected and their oncogenetic tree inferred, which reflected how the genes evolve during tumor genesis. By comparing the oncogenetic trees of non-smokers and smokers, it was identified that in non-smokers, the mutation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was an early genetic alteration event and EGFR was the key driver, but in smokers, the mutation of titin (TTN) was more important. Based on network analysis, TTN can interact with spectrin α erythrocytic 1 through calmodulin 2 and troponin C1. These genetic differences during tumorigenesis of non-smoker and smoker lung cancer patients provided novel insights into the effects of smoking on the evolutionary trajectory of non-small cell lung cancer and may prove helpful for targeted therapy of different lung cancer subtypes.

Aerosol delivery of lentivirus-mediated O-glycosylation mutant osteopontin suppresses lung tumorigenesis in K-ras (LA1) mice

BACKGROUND

Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted glycophosphoprotein that has been implicated in the regulation of cancer development. The function of OPN is primarily regulated through post-translational modification such as glycosylation. As yet, however, the relationship between OPN glycosylation and lung cancer development has not been investigated. In this study, we addressed this issue by studying the effect of a triple mutant (TM) of OPN, which is mutated at three O-glycosylation sites, on lung cancer development in K-ras (LA1) mice, a murine model for human non-small cell lung cancer.

METHODS

Aerosolized lentivirus-based OPN TM was delivered into the lungs of K-ras (LA1) mice using a nose-only-inhalation chamber 3 times/wk for 4 wks. Subsequently, the effects of repeated delivery of OPN TM on lung tumorigenesis and its concomitant OPN-mediated signaling pathways were investigated.

RESULTS

Aerosol-delivered OPN TM inhibited lung tumorigenesis. In addition, the OPN-mediated Akt signaling pathway was inhibited. OPN TM also decreased NF-κB activity and the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, while facilitating apoptosis in the lungs of K-ras (LA1) mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that aerosol delivery of OPN TM successfully suppresses lung cancer development in the K-ras (LA1) mouse model and, therefore, warrant its further investigation as a possible therapeutic strategy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Comprehensive genomic characterization of squamous cell lung cancers

Lung squamous cell carcinoma is a common type of lung cancer, causing approximately 400,000 deaths per year worldwide. Genomic alterations in squamous cell lung cancers have not been comprehensively characterized, and no molecularly targeted agents have been specifically developed for its treatment. As part of The Cancer Genome Atlas, here we profile 178 lung squamous cell carcinomas to provide a comprehensive landscape of genomic and epigenomic alterations. We show that the tumour type is characterized by complex genomic alterations, with a mean of 360 exonic mutations, 165 genomic rearrangements, and 323 segments of copy number alteration per tumour. We find statistically recurrent mutations in 11 genes, including mutation of TP53 in nearly all specimens. Previously unreported loss-of-function mutations are seen in the HLA-A class I major histocompatibility gene. Significantly altered pathways included NFE2L2 and KEAP1 in 34%, squamous differentiation genes in 44%, phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase pathway genes in 47%, and CDKN2A and RB1 in 72% of tumours. We identified a potential therapeutic target in most tumours, offering new avenues of investigation for the treatment of squamous cell lung cancers.

Molecular imaging in therapeutic efficacy assessment of targeted therapy for nonsmall cell lung cancer

Membrane distillation is a thermally driven membrane process for seawater desalination and purification at moderate temperatures and pressures. A hydrophobic micro-porous membrane is used in this process, which separates hot and cold water, allowing water vapor to pass through; while restricting the movement of liquid water, due to its hydrophobic nature. This paper provides an experimental investigation of heat and mass transfer in tubular membrane module for water desalination. Different operating parameters have been examined to determine the mass transport mechanism of water vapor. Based on the experimental results, the effects of operating parameters on permeate flux and the heat transfer analysis have been presented and discussed in details.