TY - JOUR
T1 - Dynamic Evaluation of Circulating miRNA Profile in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC Patients Treated with EGFR-TKIs
AU - Leonetti, Alessandro
AU - Capula, Mjriam
AU - Minari, Roberta
AU - Mazzaschi, Giulia
AU - Gregori, Alessandro
AU - el Hassouni, Btissame
AU - Papini, Filippo
AU - Bordi, Paola
AU - Verzè, Michela
AU - Avan, Amir
AU - Tiseo, Marcello
AU - Giovannetti, Elisa
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/6/16
Y1 - 2021/6/16
N2 - BACKGROUND: Resistance to EGFR-TKIs constitutes a major challenge for the management of EGFR-mutated NSCLC, and recent evidence suggests that deregulation of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) may influence resistance to targeted agents. In this retrospective study, we explored the role of specific plasmatic miRNAs (miR-21, miR-27a and miR-181a) as a surrogate for predicting EGFR-TKI performance in EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients. METHODS: Plasma samples of 39 advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKIs were collected at different points in time and miRNA levels were assessed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Higher basal values of miR-21 were reported in patients who achieved a partial/complete response (PR/CR) compared to those with stability/progression of disease (SD/PD) (p = 0.011). Along the same line, patients who experienced a clinical benefit lasting at least six months displayed higher basal levels of circulating miR-21 (p = 0.039). However, dynamic evaluation of miRNA values after two months from the start of EGFR-TKI treatment showed that patients who experienced SD had an increase in miR-21 levels (Fold Change [FC] = 2.6) compared to patients achieving PR/CR (p = 0.029). The same tendency was observed for miR-27a (FC = 3.1) and miR-181a (FC = 2.0), although without reaching statistical significance. Remarkably, preclinical studies showed an increase in miR-21 levels in NSCLC cells that became resistant after exposure to EGFR-TKIs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides interesting insights on the role of circulating miRNAs, in particular miR-21, and their dynamic change over time in predicting EGFR-TKI response in EGFR-mutated NSCLC.
AB - BACKGROUND: Resistance to EGFR-TKIs constitutes a major challenge for the management of EGFR-mutated NSCLC, and recent evidence suggests that deregulation of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) may influence resistance to targeted agents. In this retrospective study, we explored the role of specific plasmatic miRNAs (miR-21, miR-27a and miR-181a) as a surrogate for predicting EGFR-TKI performance in EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients. METHODS: Plasma samples of 39 advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKIs were collected at different points in time and miRNA levels were assessed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Higher basal values of miR-21 were reported in patients who achieved a partial/complete response (PR/CR) compared to those with stability/progression of disease (SD/PD) (p = 0.011). Along the same line, patients who experienced a clinical benefit lasting at least six months displayed higher basal levels of circulating miR-21 (p = 0.039). However, dynamic evaluation of miRNA values after two months from the start of EGFR-TKI treatment showed that patients who experienced SD had an increase in miR-21 levels (Fold Change [FC] = 2.6) compared to patients achieving PR/CR (p = 0.029). The same tendency was observed for miR-27a (FC = 3.1) and miR-181a (FC = 2.0), although without reaching statistical significance. Remarkably, preclinical studies showed an increase in miR-21 levels in NSCLC cells that became resistant after exposure to EGFR-TKIs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides interesting insights on the role of circulating miRNAs, in particular miR-21, and their dynamic change over time in predicting EGFR-TKI response in EGFR-mutated NSCLC.
KW - EGFR-mutated NSCLC
KW - miRNA
KW - response to EGFR-TKI
KW - targeted therapy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85110371946&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10061520
DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10061520
M3 - Article
C2 - 34208765
SN - 2073-4409
VL - 10
JO - Cells
JF - Cells
IS - 6
M1 - 1520
ER -