肺癌是致死率高且容易轉移(metastasis)到其他器官的一種癌症。研究使用的細胞株為CL1-5,為非小細胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)),此類型的肺癌細胞為最常見的一種。根據先前研究發現,藉由I-Trp阻斷CCT-β與β-tubulin之間的交互作用可殺死癌細胞,而本研究使用的小分子-845,是NHRI合成出來的一系列殺菌化合物中經實驗篩選出最有潛力殺死CL1-5,且其結構是由之前使用電腦模擬出可逆型CCT-β與β-tubulin間交互作用之抑制劑中的基團與I-Trp之側鏈所組成。經實驗發現,845可誘導肺癌細胞發生內質網壓力(ER stress),進而促使肺癌細胞內的鈣離子釋放至細胞質並導致細胞凋亡。透過wound healing assay、transwell assay,發現845能抑制肺癌細胞遷移(migration)及侵入(invasion),且經由西方墨點法可知845能抑制EMT、AKT/β-catenin和integrin的訊息傳導路徑,進而抑制肺癌轉移。 總括而論,本研究發現此具有雙功能的抑制劑化合物-845具有對肺癌的抗腫瘤和抗轉移能力。
Lung cancer has a high mortality rate and often metastasizes to other organs. The cell line used in the study was CL1-5, which is a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). According to previous studies, cancer cells can be killed through blocking the interaction between CCT-β and β-tubulin by I-Trp. The small molecule compound-845 used in this study was screened among a series of bactericidal compounds synthesized by NHRI and is the most potential to kill CL1-5 cells. In addition, its structure is composed of a functional group which is similar to the reversible inhibitors of CCT-β: β-tubulin complex previously simulated by computer and a side chain of I-Trp. It has been found that compound-845 would induce ER stress in CL1-5 cells, which in turn leads to the release of intracellular calcium ion and apoptosis. Furthermore, analyzed by wound healing assay and transwell assay, it has been found that compound-845 would inhibit the migratory and invasive ability of CL1-5 cells. Moreover, compound-845 would inhibit EMT, AKT/β-catenin and integrin signaling pathway investigated by western blot, thereby inhibiting CL1-5 cell metastasis. In conclusion, this study reveals that this dual-functional inhibitor compound-845 probably has anti-tumor and anti-metastasis ability against human lung cancer.