ABSTRACT. Drug resistance in cells is a major impedance to successful treatment of lung cancer. Taxus chinensis var. inhibits the growth of tumor cells and promotes the synthesis of interleukins 1 and 2 and tumor necrosis factor, enhancing immune function. In this study, T. chinensis var.-induced cell death was analyzed in lung cancer cells (H460) enriched for stem cell growth in a defined serum-free medium. Taxus-treated stem cells were also analyzed for Rhodamine 123 (Rh-123) expression by flow cytometry, and used as a standard functional indicator of MDR. The molecular basis of T. chinensis var.-mediated drug resistance was established by real-time PCR analysis of ABCC1, ABCB1, and lung resistance-related protein (LRP) mRNA, and western blot analysis of MRP1, MDR1, and LRP. Our results revealed that stem cells treated with higher doses of T. chinensis var. showed significantly lower growth inhibition rates than did H460 cells (P < 0.05). The growth of stem and H460 cells treated with a combination of T. chinensis var. and cisplatin was also significantly inhibited (P < 0.05). Rh-123

Rationale:With the recent advancements in molecular biology research, epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) have emerged as excellent therapies for patients with EGFR-mutant cancers. However, these patients inevitably develop cross-acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs. Transformation to small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is considered a rare resistance mechanism against EGFR-TKI therapy. Here, we report a case of TKI resistance due to SCLC transformation and demonstrate its mechanisms and clinical features.Patient concerns:A 54-year-old Chinese man with a history of smoking for 40 years complained of an intermittent cough in March 2019.Diagnosis:Transbronchial lung biopsy was performed on the basal segment of the left lower lobe, which confirmed lung adenocarcinoma. In January 2020, repeat biopsy was performed, and the results of immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining showed TTF-1 (+), CK7 (+), napsin A (+), syn (+), and CD56 (+), with a Ki-67 (+) index 80% of small cell carcinomas. Infiltrating adenocarcinomas and small cell carcinomas were observed.Interventions:Icotinib (125 mg thrice daily) was administered as a first-line treatment from June 2019. We subsequently administered a chemotherapy regimen consisting of etoposide (180 mg, days 1–3) plus cisplatin (45 mg, days 1–3) every 3 weeks for 1 cycle after recurrence. As the patient could not tolerate further chemotherapy, he continued taking icotinib orally and received whole-brain radiotherapy 10 times to a total dose of 30 Gy after brain metastases.Outcomes:The patient relapsed after successful treatment with icotinib for 9 months. A partial response was achieved after 4 cycles of chemotherapy, and despite the brief success of chemotherapy, our patient exhibited brain metastasis and metastases of the eleventh thoracic spine and the second lumbar vertebra with pathological fracture. The patient eventually died of aggressive cancer progression.Lessons:Our case highlights the possibility of SCLC transformation from EGFR-mutant adenocarcinoma and the importance of repeat biopsy for drug resistance. Serum neuron-specific enolase levels may also be useful for detecting early SCLC transformation.

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