Osimertinib (AZD9291) decreases programmed death ligand-1 in EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer cells

Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2017 Nov;38(11):1512-1520. doi: 10.1038/aps.2017.123. Epub 2017 Sep 7.

Abstract

Osimertinib (AZD9291) is a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that has been approved for the treatment of EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In NSCLC patients, an EGFR mutation is likely to be correlated with high levels of expression of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1). Here, we showed that osimertinib decreased PD-L1 expression in human EGFR mutant NSCLC cells in vitro. Osimertinib (125 nmol/L) markedly suppressed PD-L1 mRNA expression in both NCI-H1975 and HCC827 cells. Pretreatment with the N-linked glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin, osimertinib clearly decreased the production of new PD-L1 protein probably due to a reduction in mRNA. After blocking transcription and translation processes with actinomycin D and cycloheximide, respectively, osimertinib continued to reduce the expression of PD-L1, demonstrating that osimertinib might degrade PD-L1 at the post-translational level, which was confirmed by a cycloheximide chase assay, revealing that osimertinib (125 nmol/L) decreased the half-life of PD-L1 from approximately 17.8 h and 13.8 h to 8.6 h and 4.6 h, respectively, in NCI-H1975 and HCC827 cells. Pretreatment with the proteasome inhibitors (MG-132 or bortezomib) blocked the osimertinib-induced degradation of PD-L1, but an inhibitor of autophagy (chloroquine) did not. In addition, inhibition of GSK3β by LiCl prevented osimertinib-induced PD-L1 degradation. The results demonstrate that osimertinib reduces PD-L1 mRNA expression and induces its protein degradation, suggesting that osimertinib may reactivate the immune activity of T cells in the tumor microenvironment in EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients.

MeSH terms

  • Acrylamides
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / genetics
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Down-Regulation
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mutation*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Proteolysis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Acrylamides
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • Piperazines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • osimertinib
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex