Transcriptional upregulation of MAPK15 by NF-κB signaling boosts the efficacy of combination therapy with cisplatin and TNF-α

The efficacy of cisplatin in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer is limited mainly because of insensitivity and/or acquired resistance. MAPK15, previously shown by us to enhance the sensitivity of the anti-cancer drug arsenic trioxide, could also enhance the sensitivity of other anti-cancer drugs. Here, we explore the potential role of MAPK15 in chemosensitivity to cisplatin in human lung cancer cells. Our results indicated that the expression level of MAPK15 was positively correlated with cisplatin sensitivity through affecting the DNA repair capacity of cisplatin-treated cells. The expression of MAPK15 was transcriptionally regulated by the TNF-alpha-activated NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and TNF-alpha synergized with cisplatin, in a MAPK15-dependent manner, to exert cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, levels of TNF-alpha dictate the responsiveness/sensitivity of lung cancer cells to cisplatin by transcriptionally upregulating MAPK15 to enhance chemosensitivity, suggesting manipulation of MAPK15 as a strategy to improve the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs.

Automated summary

The expression level of MAPK15 is positively correlated with sensitivity to cisplatin in human lung cancer cells by affecting DNA repair capacity. The TNF-alpha-activated NF-kappa B signaling pathway transcriptionally regulates the expression of MAPK15, and TNF-alpha enhances the cytotoxicity of cisplatin in a MAPK15-dependent manner. Manipulation of MAPK15 could improve the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs.