Abstract 4882: Downregulation of core component of miRNA machinery, Tudor-SN, impedes NSCLC resistance to chemotherapy

Lung cancer (LC) is among the most common tumors liable for worldwide highest mortality rate. It has a poor prognosis and symptoms related to disease occur at an advanced stage where therapy response becomes less effective. Resistance to radio- and chemotherapy of all tumors in general and LC, in particular, is a complex phenomenon. Evasion of cell death is one of the key hallmarks of both tumorigenesis and resistance to treatment. Differential expression of microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, 19-25 nucleotides in length, and proteins involved in miRNAs maturation (Drosha, Exportin-5, Dicer1, PACT, Tudor-SN, Argonaute-2, and FXR1) have been linked to carcinogenesis and therapy resistance. Nevertheless, comprehensive information is needed to better understand their function in tumor formation and resistance/sensitization to therapy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of miRNA machinery in chemoresistance of a selected panel of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines (U1810, H661 and A549) resistant to treatment. It was revealed that knockdown of Drosha, Dicer-1 and Ago-2 was not sufficient to sensitize them to subsequent treatment with either cisplatin, 5-FU, etoposide or camptothecin (CPT), while silencing of Staphylococcal nuclease domain containing 1(SND1/p100/TSN), a key component of RISC complex, led to increased sensitivity of NSCLC cells to the DNA-damaging agents. Besides its function as a component of the multiprotein complex involved in miRNA functioning, TSN is known to act as a transcriptional activator and oncogene in many cancers. Additionally, it is cleaved during apoptosis, losing its pro-carcinogenic function. Our results show that these NSCLC cells with TSN-knocked down exhibited much stronger response to treatment with CPT and cisplatin compared to wild-type cells, as monitored by enhanced cleavage of PARP, increase in percentage of subG1 cells and potentiation of caspase-3-like activity. Overall, obtained data suggest that this nuclease can play an important role in the resistance of NSCLC cells to chemotherapy and can be used as a potential target to increase sensitivity of lung tumors to this type of treatment. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4882. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4882