Knockdown of LAMA3 enhances the sensitivity of colon cancer to oxaliplatin by regulating the Hippo-YAP pathway

Abstract

Background

Oxaliplatin is the first-line chemotherapy for patients with colon cancer (CC). However, its resistance limits its therapeutic efficacy.

Methods

Oxaliplatin resistance-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the GSE42387 and GSE227315 datasets were identified through bioinformatics methods. Functional experiments were conducted both in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the roles of laminin subunit alpha 3 (LAMA3) in drug resistance and tumorigenesis. The downstream molecular mechanisms were explored using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and western blot.

Results

Six hub genes associated with oxaliplatin resistance were identified, including LAMB3, ITGA3, COL4A6, COL12A1, LAMA3, and LAMC2, all of which were highly expressed in oxaliplatin-resistant CC cell lines. LAMA3 knockdown sensitized CC cells to oxaliplatin treatment, resulting in further inhibition of proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as an increase in apoptosis in CC cells. Additionally, LAMA3 knockdown promoted the therapeutic efficacy of oxaliplatin in the CC xenograft tumor models. Mechanistically, overexpression of YAP notably counteracted the enhanced sensitivity to oxaliplatin caused by LAMA3 knockdown, indicating that LAMA3 modulates oxaliplatin sensitivity in CC through the Hippo-YAP pathway.

Conclusion

LAMA3 knockdown promotes CC sensitivity to oxaliplatin via modulating the Hippo-YAP pathway, providing new therapeutic targets for the CC treatment.