Human tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein eight-like 1 exhibited potent anti-tumor effect through modulation of proliferation, survival, migration and invasion of lung cancer cells.

Lung cancer represents one of the most prevalent neoplasms across the globe. Tobacco smoking, exposure to different occupational and environmental carcinogens, and various dietary factors are strongly implicated in the development of lung cancer. The 5-year survival rate of lung cancer is extremely poor which can be attributed to its propensity for early spread, lack of appropriate biomarkers and proper therapeutic strategies for this aggressive neoplasm. Emerging evidence suggests tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein eight like 1 (TIPE1 or TNFAIP8L1), which functions as a cell death regulator, to hold high prospect as an important biomarker. Interestingly, this protein was found to be significantly downregulated in human lung cancer tissues compared to normal lung tissues. In addition, this protein exerted marked downregulation in different stages and grades of lung tumor. Further knockout of TIPE1 led to the enhancement in proliferation, survival, migration and invasion of NCIH460 human lung cancer cells through modulation of Akt/mTOR/STAT-3 signaling cascade. In addition, TIPE1 was found to be involved in nicotine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N-nitrosonornicotine and benzo[a]pyrene-mediated lung cancer through enhanced proliferation, survival and migration of lung cancer cells. Altogether, this newly identified protein plays a critical role in lung cancer pathogenesis and possess enormous prospect to serve as an important tool in the effective management of this aggressive neoplasm.