DYRK1A inhibition suppresses STAT3/EGFR/Met signalling and sensitizes EGFR wild-type NSCLC cells to AZD9291.

DYRK1A is considered a potential cancer therapeutic target, but the role of DYRK1A in NSCLC oncogenesis and treatment requires further investigation. In our study, high DYRK1A expression was observed in tumour samples from patients with lung cancer compared with normal lung tissues, and the high levels of DYRK1A were related to a reduced survival time in patients with lung cancer. Meanwhile, the DYRK1A inhibitor harmine could suppress the proliferation of NSCLC cells compared to that of the control. As DYRK1A suppression might be effective in treating NSCLC, we next explored the possible specific molecular mechanisms that were involved. We showed that DYRK1A suppression by siRNA could suppress the levels of EGFR and Met in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, DYRK1A siRNA could inhibit the expression and nuclear translocation of STAT3. Meanwhile, harmine could also regulate the STAT3/EGFR/Met signalling pathway in human NSCLC cells. AZD9291 is effective to treat NSCLC patients with EGFR-sensitivity mutation and T790 M resistance mutation, but the clinical efficacy in patients with wild-type EGFR remains modest. We showed that DYRK1A repression could enhance the anti-cancer effect of AZD9291 by inducing apoptosis and suppressing cell proliferation in EGFR wild-type NSCLC cells. In addition, harmine could enhance the anti-NSCLC activity of AZD9291 by modulating STAT3 pathway. Finally, harmine could enhance the anti-cancer activity of AZD9291 in primary NSCLC cells. Collectively, targeting DYRK1A might be an attractive target for AZD9291 sensitization in EGFR wild-type NSCLC patients.