Abstract 1489: MicroRNA-1 targets CXCR4/FOXM1/RRM2 axis regulating small cell lung cancer growth and metastasis

Abstract Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a high-grade neuroendocrine metastatic lung cancer subtype having a universal relapse and poor prognosis. Limited or extensive-stage SCLC patients have limited therapeutic options due to a lack of potential drug targets. In the quest for novel therapeutic molecules, we performed micro-RNA sequencing from the serum samples and also analyzed bulk RNA-sequencing data from tumors of SCLC patients. We found a consistent downregulation of miR-1 in SCLC. These results were recapitulated in SCLC cell lines and tumor tissues compared to their matched normal. To assess the therapeutic potential of miR-1, we overexpressed miR-1 in SCLC cell lines that translated into decreased cell growth and oncogenic signaling. Mechanistic studies revealed that CXCR4 is a direct target for miR-1 in SCLC. Intracardiac injection of SCLC cell lines in the mouse models showed that overexpression of miR-1 decreases the distant organ metastasis, whereas miR-1 sponging potentiates aggressiveness and metastasis. Furthermore, we identified FOXM1-RRM2 as a unique downstream target of the miR-1/CXCR4 axis involved in the growth and metastasis of SCLC. Our results showed that FOXM1 directly binds to the promoter site of RRM2 and regulates its activity. Overexpression of miR-1 decreases the expression and activity of FOXM1-RRM2 through CXCR4 that reduces cell growth and metastasis. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-1 decreases SCLC metastasis by targeting the CXCR4/FOXM1-RRM2 axis and has a high potential for the development of novel SCLC therapies. Citation Format: Parvez Khan, Jawed A. Siddiqui, Shailendra Kumar Maurya, Tamara Mirzapoiazova, Ranjana Kanchan, Ramakanth Chirravuri Venkata, Pranita Atri, Wemin Tang, NaveenKumar Perumal, Prakash Kshirsagar, Mahek Fatima, Md Arafat Khan, Sanjib Chaudhary, Asad Ur Rehman, Imayavaramban Lakshmanan, Sidharth Mahapatra, Prakash Kulkarni, Apar Kishor Ganti, Maneesh Jain, David Oupicky, Ravi Salgia, Surinder Kumar Batra, Mohd Wasim Nasser. MicroRNA-1 targets CXCR4/FOXM1/RRM2 axis regulating small cell lung cancer growth and metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 1489.