PRJNA667187
Chiaurinib selectively inhibits colorectal cancer with KRAS wild-type
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the top three most deadly cancers despite using chemotherapy based on oxaliplatin or irinotecan combined with targeted therapy. Chiaurinib has recently been identified to be a promising anticancer candidate with impressive efficacy and safety. However, the role and molecular mechanisms of Chiaurinib in the treatment of CRC remain to be elucidated. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by CCK8, EDU staining, Colony formation assay, TUNEL staining and flow cytometric analysis. ROS production was confirmed by Mito-SOX and DCF-DA fluorescence. RNA-Seq and GSEA analysis were used to explore the mechanisms of the effect of Chiaurinib in KRAS wild-type CRC cells.Our study shows that Chiaurinib inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in KRAS wild-type CRC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, but not mutation ones. Meanwhile, Chiaurinib increases ROS production in KRAS wild-type CRC cells. Moreover, Chiaurinib selectively suppresses KRAS wild-type CRC cells growth in vivo. Mechanistically, Chiaurinib inhibits KRAS wild-type CRC cells by triggering ROS production via activating the p53 signaling pathway. Further, KRAS mutation CRC cells are resistant to Chiaurinib by increasing Nrf2 to stably elevate the basal antioxidant program and thereby lower intracellular ROS induced by Chiaurinib. Taken together, we reveal that Chiauranib induces p53 upregulation, resulting in ROS accumulation, thus inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in KRAS wild-type CRC cells. Our findings provide the rationale for further clinical evaluation of Chiaurinib as a therapeutic agent in treating KRAS wild-type CRC.