Liver X receptor agonist T0901317 reverses resistance of A549 human lung cancer cells to EGFR-TKI treatment

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) is effective in lung cancer patients carrying sensitive EGFR mutations. In this study, we investigated if liver X receptor (LXR) agonist T0901317 could reverse the resistance of lung cancer cell lines A549 and H1650 to EGFR-TKI treatment. We found that T0901317 could make natural EGFR-TKI-resistant A549 human lung cancer cells sensitive to EGFR-TKI treatment and that this was dependent on LXRβ expression. However, T0901317 does not have a similar effect on another natural EGFR-TKI-resistant cell line H1650.