title: Combined effect of ALK and MEK inhibitors in EML4-ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although most non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4) - anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion gene - benefit from ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs), the efficacy of these drugs varies greatly among individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antitumour action of ALK-TKIs in EML4-ALK-positive NSCLC cell lines was evaluated from their effects on cell proliferation, signal transduction, and apoptosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ALK-TKI TAE684 inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, in association with inhibition of STAT3 and ERK phosphorylation, in EML4-ALK-positive H3122 cells. TAE684 inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation, but not ERK phosphorylation, and it showed little effect on cell proliferation or apoptosis, in EML4-ALK-positive H2228 cells. The combination of TAE684 and a MEK inhibitor-induced marked apoptosis accompanied by inhibition of STAT3 and ERK pathways in H2228 cells. Such dual interruption of STAT3 and ERK pathways induced downregulation of the antiapoptotic protein survivin and upregulation of the proapoptotic protein BIM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that interruption of both STAT3-survivin and ERK-BIM pathways is required for induction of apoptosis in NSCLC harbouring EML4-ALK, providing a rationale for combination therapy with ALK and MEK inhibitors in EML4-ALK-positive NSCLC patients for whom ALK inhibitors alone are ineffective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tanizaki
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takezawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuwata
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hatashita
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Janne
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
mesh_terms: D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000378:metabolism*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D000077022:Survivin
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C000606775:BCL2L11 protein, human; C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; C522504:EML4-ALK fusion protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D000077022:Survivin; C000626173:ALK protein, human; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1