Dickkopf-1 Promotes Tumor Progression of Gefitinib- Resistant Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Through Cancer Cell-fibroblast Interactions

Overview

Journal Exp Hematol Oncol

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Hematology

Date 2025 Mar 2

PMID 40025612

Authors

Munkyung Choi

Yong June Choi

Young Joo Lee

Yujeong Lee

Jin-Haeng Chung

Keon Wook Kang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Cancer cell-secreted proteins play a critical role in tumor progression and chemoresistance by influencing intercellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment. Investigating the intratumoral functions of these secretory proteins may provide insights into understanding and treating chemoresistant cancers. This study aims to identify potential anticancer target(s) in gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with a focus on secretory proteins and their effects on intercellular interactions.

Methods: Differentially expressed secretory proteins were identified in gefitinib-resistant human NSCLC cell lines (PC9-GR and HCC827-GR), revealing an elevation in Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) expression and secretion. To elucidate the role of DKK1 in gefitinib-resistant cancer, the anticancer effects of a neutralizing antibody against DKK1 were evaluated in tumors comprising either cancer cells alone or cancer cells co-injected with human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5). Following the confirmation of the importance of cancer cell-fibroblast interactions in the protumorigenic activity of DKK1, the fibroblast traits modulated by DKK1 were further analyzed.

Results: Gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cells exhibited increased DKK1 protein expression. Although elevated DKK1 levels were linked to poor prognosis, DKK1 did not directly affect cancer cell proliferation. However, DKK1 blockade showed significant anticancer effects in gefitinib-resistant tumors containing lung fibroblasts, suggesting that DKK1's pro-tumorigenic roles are mediated through cancer cell-fibroblast interactions. DKK1 altered fibroblast characteristics, enhancing inflammatory fibroblast traits while diminishing myofibroblast traits in tumor microenvironment. These DKK1-induced changes were mediated via activation of the c-JUN pathway in fibroblasts. Moreover, DKK1 was identified as a potential anticancer target across various cancer types beyond gefitinib-resistant lung cancer.

Conclusions: This study clarifies that DKK1 mediates interactions between cancer cells and fibroblasts in gefitinib-resistant lung cancer, contributing to tumor progression. Therefore, we propose DKK1 as a promising anticancer target for the treatment of gefitinib-resistant NSCLC.

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