Expression Profiles of microRNAs in Drug-Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Lines Using microRNA Sequencing.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Drug resistance remains a main obstacle to the treatment of non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to identify the expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in drug-resistant NSCLC cell lines.

METHODS: The expression profiles of miRNAs in drug-resistant NSCLC cell lines were examined using miRNA sequencing, and the common dysregulated miRNAs in these cell lines were identified and analyzed by bioinformatics methods.

RESULTS: A total of 29 upregulated miRNAs and 36 downregulated miRNAs were found in the drug-resistant NSCLC cell lines, of which 26 upregulated and 36 downregulated miRNAs were found to be involved in the Ras signaling pathway. The expression levels, survival analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve of the dysregulated miRNAs based on The Cancer Genome Atlas database for lung adenocarcinoma showed that hsa-mir-192, hsa-mir-1293, hsa-mir-194, hsa-mir-561, hsa-mir-205, hsa-mir-30a, and hsa-mir-30c were related to lung cancer, whereas only hsa-mir-1293 and hsa-mir-561 were not involved in drug resistance.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study may provide novel biomarkers for drug resistance in NSCLC and potential therapies for overcoming drug resistance, and may also reveal the potential mechanisms underlying drug resistance in this disease.