Search

Currently, osimertinib (AZD9291) is the only third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR T790M mutations. However, acquired resistance is an inevitable clinical challenge. Although placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8) has been proven to serve an important role in tumor progression and resistance, its effect in AZD9291 resistance in NSCLC remains largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the functional role of PLAC8 in AZD9291 resistance in NSCLC. The results revealed that the level of PLAC8 was significantly upregulated in AZD9291-resistant cells compared with that in parent cells. Overexpression of PLAC8 in parent cells markedly decreased drug sensitivity, and enhanced cell proliferation, colony formation and migration. Furthermore, the levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1 (ALDH1A1) were observed to be upregulated in resistant cells and PLAC8-overexpressing parent cells, suggesting that ALDH1A1 may be involved in the association between the overexpression of PLAC8 and AZD9291 resistance in NSCLC. Overall, PLAC8 overexpression promoted NSCLC resistance to AZD9291, and PLAC8 may be a potential target for the reversal of AZD9291 resistance.

Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater treatment by conventional neutralization, chemical precipitation and coagulation process removes most suspended solids and heavy metals, and provides an effluent rich in calcium, alkalinity and chloride, which obstructs its reclamation and reuse but is in favor of phosphorus (P) precipitation. The goals of this study were to investigate feasibility of reusing FGD effluent as a calcium source for P removal from P-rich wastewater. Results revealed that increasing the volumetric ratio between FGD effluent and P-rich wastewater achieved higher pH value and Ca/P ratio, and thus enhanced P removal efficiency to 94.3% at the ratio of 40%. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analysis of harvested precipitates showed that increasing pH from 8 to 10 induced the conversion of hydroxyapatite to tri-calcium phosphate, and then to whitlockite. This study demonstrated that for reusing FGD effluent for P removal was highly feasible, both technically and economically. This process not only saves the cost of precipitants for P removal, but also provides an economical alternative for current zero liquid discharge technology for FGD wastewater, which requires high energy consumption and capital costs.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel type of endogenous RNAs and increasing evidence have uncovered the important role of circRNA in tumor progression; however, the function of circRNAs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains largely unclear. In the present study, it was demonstrated that the expression level of hsa_circ_0033155 was significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissue and the expression of hsa_circ_0033155 correlated with lymphatic metastasis. In order to further investigate the possible role of hsa_circ_0033155 in NSCLC progression, circRNA was overexpressed in NSCLC cells and it was observed that the overexpression of hsa_circ_0033155 significantly decreased cell proliferation, colony formation and migration, and elevated the level of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10, a tumor suppressor in many types of tumor. In conclusion, hsa_circ_0033155 may serve as a prospective biomarker for detection and a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.