Purpose: Increased activation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway is frequently observed in several primary cancers as well as cancer cell lines. Thus, targeting JAK-STAT pathway components by different molecular-biologic approaches in the search for new anticancer therapies has become widespread and resulted in encouraging outcomes. In this study, the effects of chemically modified anti-STAT3 small interfering (si)RNAs on cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis of parental and cisplatin resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells were investigated with the aim to provide a new therapeutic strategy for overcoming cisplatin resistance in lung cancer.
Methods: The parental NSCLC cell line Calu1 and its cisplatin- resistant subline CR-Calu1 were used to study the effects of STAT3 suppression with chemically modified anti-STAT3 siRNAs. STAT3 gene and protein expressions were analyzed by real-time (RT) quantitative (q) PCR and Western blot, respectively. Apoptosis was evaluated by Caspase-3 activity and cell death assays.
Results: STAT3 messenger (m)RNA and protein expression were significantly increased in CR-Calu1 cells and suppressing its expression with specific siRNAs increased the rate of apoptosis through Caspase-3 activation. STAT3 suppression also significantly increased cisplatin sensitivity of Calu1 and CR-Calu1 cells after transfection with STAT3 siRNAs.
Conclusions: NSCLC cells could be sensitized to cisplatin by targeting STAT3 with chemically modified siRNAs together, a fact which was accompanied with increased apoptosis.