Expression of bcl-2 and c-Met genes in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines harboring different mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor / 肿瘤研究与临床

ABSTRACT

Objective To detect the expression of bcl-2 and c-Met genes in lung cancer cell lines with different mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), in order to explore the association between expression of bcl-2 and c-Met genes and drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Direct sequencing was used to detect EGFR mutations status in HCC827 cells, A549 cells and H1975 cells. Immunocytochemistry was conducted to test bcl-2 and c-Met expression. RT-PCR was performed to analyzed bcl-2 gene expression and ARMS was used to detect EGFR mutations status in malignant pleural effusion of NSCLC patients. Results A549 cells, HCC827 cells and H1975 cells were EGFR wild type, EGFR exon 19 deletion (19del), and EGFR exon 21 L858R and exon 20 T790M double mutations. c-Met and bcl-2 protein located in cytoplasm and the intensity of positive expression was highest in HCC827 cells, followed by A549 cells and H1975 cells. The bcl-2 mRNA expression was higher in HCC827 and A549 cells than that in H1975 cells (10.93±1.90 vs. 0.83±0.15, P=0.013; 7.13±1.33 vs. 0.83±0.15, P= 0.000). However bcl-2 mRNA expression was not associated with EGFR mutations (wild type, 19del and L858R) in malignant pleural effusion of NSCLC patients. Conclusion bcl-2 and c-Met gene in HCC827 cells (EGFR 19del) expression is significantly higher than those in H1975 cells (EGFR L858R/T790M), implying EGFR L858R mutations and 19del mutations may be regulated by different signaling pathways.