Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40452758›Full record

ArticleLung Cancer (Auckland, N.Z.)2025

Elucidating the Role of FASN in Lung Cancer Stem Cells in Sensitive and Resistant EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

Emma Polonio-Alcalá, Sira Ausellé-Bosch, Gerard Riesco-Llach, Pablo Novales, Lidia Feliu, Marta Planas, Joaquim Ciurana, Teresa Puig

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Lung Cancer (Auckland, N.Z.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Emma Polonio-AlcaláNew Therapeutic Targets Laboratory (Targetslab) - Oncology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-1017-7216
Sira Ausellé-BoschNew Therapeutic Targets Laboratory (Targetslab) - Oncology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.ORCID 0009-0005-8284-4657
Gerard Riesco-LlachLaboratori d'Innovació en Processos i Productes de Síntesi Orgànica (LIPPSO), Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-9869-7488
Pablo NovalesNew Therapeutic Targets Laboratory (Targetslab) - Oncology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.
Lidia FeliuLaboratori d'Innovació en Processos i Productes de Síntesi Orgànica (LIPPSO), Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-9792-6106
Marta PlanasLaboratori d'Innovació en Processos i Productes de Síntesi Orgànica (LIPPSO), Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-4988-4970
Joaquim CiuranaProduct, Process, and Production Engineering Research Group (GREP), Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-6574-5551
Teresa PuigNew Therapeutic Targets Laboratory (Targetslab) - Oncology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-2715-7043

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive tumor initiation, relapse, and metastasis. Our research team developed polycaprolactone electrospun (PCL-ES) scaffolds for enriching lung CSCs (LCSCs) since monolayer culture do not allow the study of this malignant population. The upregulation of fatty acid synthase (FASN) correlates with resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and its inhibition induces cytotoxicity in EGFR-mutated (EGFRm) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the role of FASN and related signaling pathways in LCSCs cultured in PCL-ES scaffolds and to evaluate the effectiveness of FASN inhibitor G28, a synthetic derivative of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), against this population. Methods: EGFR-TKI-sensitive and -resistant cell modes were used. FASN expression and function were studied by RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and free fatty acid quantification, while related signaling pathways (EGFR, MAPK, AKT, and STAT3) were examined by Western blotting. The effects of G28 on LCSCs -including its impact on FASN and related signaling-were evaluated using the MTT assay and Western blotting. Results: LCSCs cultured in PCL-ES scaffolds showed a significant FASN upregulation, supporting their proliferation and maintenance. Despite reduced EGFR activation in 3D-cultured cells, downstream signaling responses differed: PC9 cells exhibited higher levels of p-AKT, p-MAPK, and p-STAT3, while PC9-GR3 cells showed reduced p-MAPK and p-AKT, with no changes in p-STAT3. Regarding G28 treatment, it exhibited cytotoxic effects in both 2D- and 3D-cultured cells, suggesting potential efficacy in targeting both non-LCSCs and LCSCs. Furthermore, the treatment downregulated FASN and AKT, reducing or avoiding the proliferation of this malignant population. Conclusion: Our results highlight the potential of G28 as a therapeutic option for targeting LCSCs in both sensitive and resistant EGFRm NSCLC cells, though additional studies are required to validate these results and assess their clinical applicability.

Indexed as

3D cell cultureAKTEGCG synthetic derivativeFASNlung cancer stem cellsNSCLC

Identifiers

PMID40452758
PMCPMC12126118

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.