Author of

• 10497

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  P1.01 - Poster Session 1 - Cancer Biology (ID 143)

  • Event: WCLC 2013
  • Type: Poster Session
  • Track: Biology
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:
  • Coordinates: 10/28/2013, 09:30 - 16:30, Exhibit Hall, Ground Level

  • 10508

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    P1.01-011 - Targeting the Urokinase Plasminogen Activator (uPA) System to overcome cisplatin resistance in NSCLC (ID 3347)

    09:30 - 16:30  |  Author(s): A. Mazar
    • Abstract

    Background
    The urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) system (uPAS) has been shown to play a significant multifunctional role in tumour progression including angiogenesis, adhesion and migration. Increased levels of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor uPAR (CD87) strongly correlate with poor prognosis and a poor clinical outcome. It has been shown previously that a subpopulation of uPAR-positive cells in Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) cell lines demonstrate significant drug resistance to traditional chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and etoposide. The uPAS is regulated by NF-κB which has been shown to be constitutively activated in several cancer types including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Furthermore, we have shown NF-κB to be involved in the development of resistance to cisplatin in NSCLC. This project focuses on determining the role of the uPA system in the invasive phenotype of cisplatin resistant NSCLC cells.

    Methods
    Expression of NF-κB (p65) in parent and resistant NSCLC cell lines was quantified by qPCR, western blot and high content screening (HCS). The expression profiles of NFκB target genes were quantified using a Roche custom NFκB RTPCR array. Gene “hits” with a fold change >2 between parent and cisplatin resistant cells were validated by qPCR analysis. The upregulation of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in cisplatin resistant cells was determined by western blot. The effect of uPA inhibition on cell migration and invasion, using the monoclonal anti-uPAR antibody ATN-658, is being determined using the novel impedance-based xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis detection platform.

    Results
    Gene expression data, from the NFκB target gene array identified a panel of genes including; PLAU (gene for uPA), RIPK and NLRP12 amongst others that were over-expressed in H460 cisplatin resistant cell lines compared to the isogenic parent cell line. uPA overexpression at the protein level was confirmed in a panel of cisplatin resistant cells compared to parent cell lines. The effect of ATN-658 on the inhibition of cell migration and invasion in cisplatin sensitive and resistant cell lines will be presented.

    Conclusion
    Overexpression of uPA across a panel of cisplatin resistant NSCLC cell lines highlights its significance as a marker of resistance. Targeting the uPA system may be exploited in cisplatin resistant NSCLC to inhibit cell migration and invasion.