Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
Department of Radiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2024 Dec;1870(8):167455. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167455. Epub 2024 Aug 5.
Cancer cells lacking functional p53 exhibit poor prognosis, necessitating effective treatment strategies. Inhibiting WEE1, the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint gatekeeper, represents a promising approach for treating p53-deficient NSCLC. Here, we investigate the connection between p53 and WEE1, as well as explore a synergistic therapeutic approach for managing p53-deficient NSCLC. Our study reveals that p53 deficiency upregulates both protein levels and kinase activity of WEE1 by inhibiting its SUMOylation process, thereby enhancing the susceptibility of p53-deficient NSCLC to WEE1 inhibitors. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the WEE1 inhibitor Adavosertib induces intracellular lipid peroxidation, specifically in p53-deficient NSCLC cells, suggesting potential synergy with pro-oxidant reagents. Repurposing Disulfiram (DSF), an alcoholism medication used in combination with copper (Cu), exhibits pro-oxidant properties against NSCLC. The levels of WEE1 protein in p53-deficient NSCLC cells treated with DSF-Cu exhibit a time-dependent increase. Subsequent evaluation of the combination therapy involving Adavosertib and DSF-Cu reveals reduced cell viability along with smaller tumor volumes and lighter tumor weights observed in both p53-deficient cells and xenograft models while correlating with solute carrier family 7-member 11 (SLC7A11)/glutathione-regulated ferroptosis pathway activation. In conclusion, our findings elucidate the molecular interplay between p53 and WEE1 and unveil a novel synergistic therapeutic strategy for treating p53-deficient NSCLC.
缺乏功能性 p53 的癌细胞预后较差,因此需要有效的治疗策略。抑制 G2/M 细胞周期检查点的守门员 WEE1,是治疗 p53 缺陷型 NSCLC 的一种很有前途的方法。在这里,我们研究了 p53 和 WEE1 之间的联系,并探索了一种协同治疗 p53 缺陷型 NSCLC 的方法。我们的研究表明,p53 缺失通过抑制其 SUMO 化过程而上调 WEE1 的蛋白水平和激酶活性,从而增加了 p53 缺陷型 NSCLC 对 WEE1 抑制剂的敏感性。此外,我们证明 WEE1 抑制剂 Adavosertib 可诱导细胞内脂质过氧化,特别是在 p53 缺陷型 NSCLC 细胞中,这表明与促氧化剂试剂可能具有协同作用。将 Disulfiram(DSF)重新用于治疗,DSF 是一种与铜(Cu)联合使用的治疗酒精中毒的药物,对 NSCLC 具有促氧化剂特性。用 DSF-Cu 处理的 p53 缺陷型 NSCLC 细胞中 WEE1 蛋白的水平表现出时间依赖性增加。随后对 Adavosertib 和 DSF-Cu 的联合治疗进行评估,发现 p53 缺陷型细胞和异种移植模型中的细胞活力降低,肿瘤体积减小,肿瘤重量减轻,同时与溶质载体家族 7 成员 11(SLC7A11)/谷胱甘肽调节的铁死亡途径激活相关。总之,我们的研究结果阐明了 p53 和 WEE1 之间的分子相互作用,并揭示了一种治疗 p53 缺陷型 NSCLC 的新的协同治疗策略。
Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2024-12
Sci China Life Sci. 2025-1
Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2025-7-30
Front Pharmacol. 2025-7-15
Biology (Basel). 2025-5-14
Adv Biol (Weinh). 2025-8
Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025-2-26