Midkine Promotes Tumor Growth and Attenuates the Effect of Cisplatin in Small Cell Lung Cancer

ABSTRACT Purpose Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive disease associated with poor patient survival rates. The addition of an anti‐programmed death ligand 1 antibody to platinum combination chemotherapy can improve its prognosis. However, only a few patients achieve a long‐term respo...

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Main Authors: Shotaro Ito, Jun Sakakibara‐Konishi, Mineyoshi Sato, Tetsuaki Shoji, Megumi Furuta, Hirofumi Takahashi, Kosuke Tsuji, Daisuke Morinaga, Masahiro Kashima, Hidenori Kitai, Junko Kikuchi, Eiki Kikuchi, Kanako C. Hatanaka, Yutaka Hatanaka, Kyoko Hida, Takuro Noguchi, Satoshi Konno
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Cancer Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71034
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author Shotaro Ito
Jun Sakakibara‐Konishi
Mineyoshi Sato
Tetsuaki Shoji
Megumi Furuta
Hirofumi Takahashi
Kosuke Tsuji
Daisuke Morinaga
Masahiro Kashima
Hidenori Kitai
Junko Kikuchi
Eiki Kikuchi
Kanako C. Hatanaka
Yutaka Hatanaka
Kyoko Hida
Takuro Noguchi
Satoshi Konno
author_facet Shotaro Ito
Jun Sakakibara‐Konishi
Mineyoshi Sato
Tetsuaki Shoji
Megumi Furuta
Hirofumi Takahashi
Kosuke Tsuji
Daisuke Morinaga
Masahiro Kashima
Hidenori Kitai
Junko Kikuchi
Eiki Kikuchi
Kanako C. Hatanaka
Yutaka Hatanaka
Kyoko Hida
Takuro Noguchi
Satoshi Konno
author_sort Shotaro Ito
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Purpose Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive disease associated with poor patient survival rates. The addition of an anti‐programmed death ligand 1 antibody to platinum combination chemotherapy can improve its prognosis. However, only a few patients achieve a long‐term response; thus, establishing new therapies for SCLC is crucial. Midkine (MDK) is a heparin‐binding growth factor involved in various biological processes, including cell proliferation and chemotherapeutic resistance, in diverse cancers. MDK has garnered attention as a therapeutic and diagnostic target for several cancers; however, only a few studies have evaluated its expression and function in SCLC. This study aimed to evaluate the MDK expression in human SCLC tissue and human SCLC cell lines, and to clarify its function in tumorigenesis. Methods MDK expression was analyzed in vitro and in vivo through ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. Its effects on cell proliferation, as well as the effects of cisplatin, were evaluated using the MTT assay. Results MDK was pathologically expressed in human SCLC tumor tissues but not in normal lung tissues. Serum MDK concentrations in patients with SCLC reflected the SCLC tumor burden and were correlated with response to treatment. Moreover, MDK induced cell proliferation and attenuated the effects of cisplatin in SCLC cell lines. An MDK inhibitor and cisplatin exerted synergistic antitumor effects both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, MDK positively regulated the AKT pathway. Conclusion Our findings indicate that MDK promotes cell proliferation and chemotherapeutic resistance by activating the AKT pathway in SCLC cells. Therefore, MDK may be a potential therapeutic and diagnostic target for SCLC.
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spelling doaj-art-809bce76d0dd474bbd81c161f3157de52025-08-20T02:54:53ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342025-07-011413n/an/a10.1002/cam4.71034Midkine Promotes Tumor Growth and Attenuates the Effect of Cisplatin in Small Cell Lung CancerShotaro Ito0Jun Sakakibara‐Konishi1Mineyoshi Sato2Tetsuaki Shoji3Megumi Furuta4Hirofumi Takahashi5Kosuke Tsuji6Daisuke Morinaga7Masahiro Kashima8Hidenori Kitai9Junko Kikuchi10Eiki Kikuchi11Kanako C. Hatanaka12Yutaka Hatanaka13Kyoko Hida14Takuro Noguchi15Satoshi Konno16Department of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanCenter for Development of Advanced Diagnostics Hokkaido University Hospital Sapporo JapanCenter for Development of Advanced Diagnostics Hokkaido University Hospital Sapporo JapanDepartment of Vascular Biology and Molecular Pathology Hokkaido University Faculty of Dental Medicine Sapporo JapanDepartment of Medical Oncology Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanDepartment of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University Sapporo JapanABSTRACT Purpose Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive disease associated with poor patient survival rates. The addition of an anti‐programmed death ligand 1 antibody to platinum combination chemotherapy can improve its prognosis. However, only a few patients achieve a long‐term response; thus, establishing new therapies for SCLC is crucial. Midkine (MDK) is a heparin‐binding growth factor involved in various biological processes, including cell proliferation and chemotherapeutic resistance, in diverse cancers. MDK has garnered attention as a therapeutic and diagnostic target for several cancers; however, only a few studies have evaluated its expression and function in SCLC. This study aimed to evaluate the MDK expression in human SCLC tissue and human SCLC cell lines, and to clarify its function in tumorigenesis. Methods MDK expression was analyzed in vitro and in vivo through ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. Its effects on cell proliferation, as well as the effects of cisplatin, were evaluated using the MTT assay. Results MDK was pathologically expressed in human SCLC tumor tissues but not in normal lung tissues. Serum MDK concentrations in patients with SCLC reflected the SCLC tumor burden and were correlated with response to treatment. Moreover, MDK induced cell proliferation and attenuated the effects of cisplatin in SCLC cell lines. An MDK inhibitor and cisplatin exerted synergistic antitumor effects both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, MDK positively regulated the AKT pathway. Conclusion Our findings indicate that MDK promotes cell proliferation and chemotherapeutic resistance by activating the AKT pathway in SCLC cells. Therefore, MDK may be a potential therapeutic and diagnostic target for SCLC.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71034AKTbiomarkerMidkinesmall cell lung cancertherapeutic targettumor progression
spellingShingle Shotaro Ito
Jun Sakakibara‐Konishi
Mineyoshi Sato
Tetsuaki Shoji
Megumi Furuta
Hirofumi Takahashi
Kosuke Tsuji
Daisuke Morinaga
Masahiro Kashima
Hidenori Kitai
Junko Kikuchi
Eiki Kikuchi
Kanako C. Hatanaka
Yutaka Hatanaka
Kyoko Hida
Takuro Noguchi
Satoshi Konno
Midkine Promotes Tumor Growth and Attenuates the Effect of Cisplatin in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Cancer Medicine
AKT
biomarker
Midkine
small cell lung cancer
therapeutic target
tumor progression
title Midkine Promotes Tumor Growth and Attenuates the Effect of Cisplatin in Small Cell Lung Cancer
title_full Midkine Promotes Tumor Growth and Attenuates the Effect of Cisplatin in Small Cell Lung Cancer
title_fullStr Midkine Promotes Tumor Growth and Attenuates the Effect of Cisplatin in Small Cell Lung Cancer
title_full_unstemmed Midkine Promotes Tumor Growth and Attenuates the Effect of Cisplatin in Small Cell Lung Cancer
title_short Midkine Promotes Tumor Growth and Attenuates the Effect of Cisplatin in Small Cell Lung Cancer
title_sort midkine promotes tumor growth and attenuates the effect of cisplatin in small cell lung cancer
topic AKT
biomarker
Midkine
small cell lung cancer
therapeutic target
tumor progression
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71034
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