Modeling of tumor progression in NSCLC and intrinsic resistance to TKI in loss of PTEN expression

PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e48004. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048004. Epub 2012 Oct 24.

Abstract

EGFR signaling plays a very important role in NSCLC. It activates Ras/ERK, PI3K/Akt and STAT activation pathways. These are the main pathways for cell proliferation and survival. We have developed two mathematical models to relate to the different EGFR signaling in NSCLC and normal cells in the presence or absence of EGFR and PTEN mutations. The dynamics of downstream signaling pathways vary in the disease state and activation of some factors can be indicative of drug resistance. Our simulation denotes the effect of EGFR mutations and increased expression of certain factors in NSCLC EGFR signaling on each of the three pathways where levels of pERK, pSTAT and pAkt are increased. Over activation of ERK, Akt and STAT3 which are the main cell proliferation and survival factors act as promoting factors for tumor progression in NSCLC. In case of loss of PTEN, Akt activity level is considerably increased. Our simulation results show that in the presence of erlotinib, downstream factors i.e. pAkt, pSTAT3 and pERK are inhibited. However, in case of loss of PTEN expression in the presence of erlotinib, pAkt level would not decrease which demonstrates that these cells are resistant to erlotinib.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Statistical
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / biosynthesis*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Quinazolines
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • PTEN protein, human

Grants and funding

No current external funding sources for this study.