NFAT as a Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer-Related Brain Metastasis

Evaluation of Expression Levels of NFATc2 and PPARG Genes Two Effector Elements of WNT Pathway in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Background

There is an emergency need in discovering an efficient profile of molecular biomarkers for early diagnosis of Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Transcription factors as important groups of regulators that are able to adjust the cell cycles have attracted the attention of most researchers recently. NFATc2 and PPARG are two important factors that have been selected for this project to assess their potential for being a biomarker for NSCLC.

Materials and Methods

Here in this study, 50 NSCLC patients were included. During bronchoscopy, which was their routine diagnostic approach, we collected tumoral and marginal normal tissues. After the extraction of the total RNA from the tissues, cDNA was synthesized, and the transcriptional level of NFATc2 and PPARG was examined by quantitative real-time PCR. Subsequently, the data were analyzed by proper statistical analyses.

Results

The mRNA expression of NFATc2 and PPARG were down-regulated in biopsy tissues of NSCLC patients compared with their pair marginal tissues (Pvalues were 0.0011 and <0.0001 respectively). Moreover, both of them had significant AUC (area under the curve) in the ROC curve analysis (0.65 for NFATc2 and 0.81 for PPARG, Pvalue <0.05).

Conclusion

It appears that mRNA expression of NFATc2 and PPARG possesses the potential to be regarded as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for NSCLC.

Single-cell transcriptomic analyses provide insights into the cellular origins and drivers of brain metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Brain metastasis (BM) is the most common intracranial malignancy causing significant mortality, and lung cancer is the most common origin of BM. However, the cellular origins and drivers of BM from lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have yet to be defined.

METHODS

The cellular constitutions were characterized by single-cell transcriptomic profiles of 11 LUAD primary tumor (PT) and 10 BM samples (GSE131907). Copy number variation (CNV) and clonality analysis were applied to illustrate the cellular origins of BM tumors. Brain metastasis-associated epithelial cells (BMAECs) were identified by pseudotime trajectory analysis. By using machine-learning algorithms, we developed the BM-index representing the relative abundance of BMAECs in the bulk RNA-seq data indicating a high risk of BM. Therapeutic drugs targeting BMAECs were predicted based on the drug sensitivity data of cancer cell lines.

RESULTS

Differences in macrophages and T cells between PTs and BMs were investigated by single-cell RNA (scRNA) and immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence data. CNV analysis demonstrated BM was derived from subclones of PT with a gain of chromosome 7. We then identified BMAECs and their biomarker, S100A9. Immunofluorescence indicated strong correlations of BMAECs with metastasis and prognosis evaluated by the paired PT and BM samples from Peking Union Medical College Hospital. We further evaluated the clinical significance of the BM-index and identified 7 drugs that potentially target BMAECs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study clarified possible cellular origins and drivers of metastatic LUAD at the single-cell level and laid a foundation for early detection of LUAD patients with a high risk of BM.

Current treatments for non-small cell lung cancer

Despite improved methods of diagnosis and the development of different treatments, mortality from lung cancer remains surprisingly high. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the large majority of lung cancer cases. Therefore, it is important to review current methods of diagnosis and treatments of NSCLC in the clinic and preclinic. In this review, we describe, as a guide for clinicians, current diagnostic methods and therapies (such as chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, targeted therapy, antiangiogenic therapy, immunotherapy, and combination therapy) for NSCLC.

Interleukin-11: A Potential Biomarker and Molecular Therapeutic Target in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of lung cancer and is a fast progressive disease when left untreated. Identification of potential biomarkers in NSCLC is an ongoing area of research that aims to detect, diagnose, and prognosticate patients early to optimize treatment. We review the role of interleukin-11 (IL11), a stromal-cell derived pleiotropic cytokine with profibrotic and cellular remodeling properties, as a potential biomarker in NSCLC. This review identifies the need for biomarkers in NSCLC, the potential sources of IL11, and summarizes the available information leveraging upon published literature, publicly available datasets, and online tools. We identify accumulating evidence suggesting IL11 to be a potential biomarker in NSCLC patients. Further in-depth studies into the pathophysiological effects of IL11 on stromal-tumor interaction in NSCLC are warranted and current available literature highlights the potential value of IL11 detection as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in NSCLC.