Bit1 as a tumor suppressor and a therapeutic target in NSCLC Abstract The work in this laboratory supported by this grant in the past three years has made significant contributions to the field of Bit1 functional biology particularly in the contxt of anoikis resistance and tumorigenicity of Non- Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC), a deadly and the most prevalent form of lung cancer. Bit1 is a mitochondrial protein that is released to the cytoplasm following of loss of cell attachment, and associates with the transcriptional regulator protein Amino-terminal Enhancer of Split (AES) to trigger caspase-independent apoptosis. Our studies have shown that NSCLC cells are likely to bypass this pathway to become anoikis resistant and anchorage independent and provide the first evidence of the tumor suppressive function of Bit1 in NSCLC. Importantly, our recent findings indicate that Bit1 in addition to its anoikis function may negatively regulate Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in NSCLC cells. Hence, the observed tumor suppressive function of Bit1 may relate to its dual role in promoting anoikis and inhibiting EMT. This novel EMT regulatory function of Bit1 underscores its potential utility to circumvent the aggressive and metastatic phenotype of NSCLC. In line with Bit1 as a lung tumor suppressor, the TLE1 corepressor, a sole known inhibitor of Bit1 function, has recently been identified as a lung specific oncogene. Our work has contributed to the elucidation on the mechanism of the TLE1 oncogenic pathway, in part through blocking the Bit1 apoptotic pathway and promoting EMT in NSCLC cells. Our collective data supports a model wherein Bit1 functions to turn off the survival- and EMT-promoting gene regulatory functions of TLE1 in an AES dependent manner. In continuation of this project, we will investigate our hypothesis that Bit1 is a suppressor of lung epithelial cell transformation in vitro and lung tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis in vivo through its inhibitory effect on the oncogenic TLE1 transcriptional program. To test the hypothesis, we propose the following specific aims: 1) to study the role of the Bit1/AES/TLE1 pathway in the malignant transformation of human lung epithelial cells, 2) to determine the mechanism underlying the formation and activity of the Bit1/AES complex and the regulation of the TLE1 gene regulatory functions by the Bit1-AES complex, and 3) to determine the effects of enhanced and suppressed Bit1 and/or TLE1 expression on tumorigenicity and metastasis of NSCLC in vivo. These proposed studies will advance the fundamental knowledge on the mechanism by which the Bit1 pathway regulates lung tumorigenesis and progression and will contribute to potential translation of this pathway in the treatment of lung cancer. PHS398 (Rev. 5/01) Page Continuation Format Page

Public Health Relevance

Bit1 as a tumor suppressor and a therapeutic target in Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Cells Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a highly aggressive disease with poor prognosis and high mortality. The dismal prognosis is in part due to its resistance to conventional chemotherapy and its propensity to spread to distant organs. To circumvent the aggressiveness of NSCLC, it is imperative to identify genetic targets that regulate lung tumor progression. Our collective data indicate that the mitochondrial Bit1 protein exhibits tumor suppressive function in lung cancer through induction of cell death and inhibition of tumor invasiveness.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA) (R15)
Project #
2R15CA158677-02
Application #
8956867
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Strasburger, Jennifer
Project Start
2015-08-01
Project End
2018-07-31
Budget Start
2015-08-01
Budget End
2018-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Xavier University of Louisiana
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
020857876
City
New Orleans
State
LA
Country
United States
Zip Code
70125
Yao, Xin; Gray, Selena; Pham, Tri et al. (2018) Downregulation of Bit1 expression promotes growth, anoikis resistance, and transformation of immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells via Erk activation-dependent suppression of E-cadherin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 495:1240-1248
Yao, Xin; Pham, Tri; Temple, Brandi et al. (2016) The Anoikis Effector Bit1 Inhibits EMT through Attenuation of TLE1-Mediated Repression of E-Cadherin in Lung Cancer Cells. PLoS One 11:e0163228
Yao, Xin; Ireland, Shubha Kale; Pham, Tri et al. (2014) TLE1 promotes EMT in A549 lung cancer cells through suppression of E-cadherin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 455:277-84
Yao, Xin; Jennings, Scott; Ireland, Shubha Kale et al. (2014) The anoikis effector Bit1 displays tumor suppressive function in lung cancer cells. PLoS One 9:e101564
Jenning, Scott; Pham, Tri; Ireland, Shubha Kale et al. (2013) Bit1 in anoikis resistance and tumor metastasis. Cancer Lett 333:147-51
Brunquell, Chris; Biliran, Hector; Jennings, Scott et al. (2012) TLE1 is an anoikis regulator and is downregulated by Bit1 in breast cancer cells. Mol Cancer Res 10:1482-95