Overexpression of OCT4 is associated with gefitinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

// Bin Li 1 , Zhouhong Yao 1 , Yunyan Wan 1 , Dianjie Lin 1 1 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China, 250021 Correspondence to: Dianjie Lin, email: drsunlin66@163.com Keywords: NSCLC, chemoresistance, OCT4, gefitinib, proliferation, apoptosis Received: August 15, 2016      Accepted: October 14, 2016      Published: October 31, 2016 ABSTRACT Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have emerged as first-line drugs for non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). However, the resistance to TKIs represents the key limitation for their therapeutic efficacy. We found that the difference of OCT4 expression between NSCLC and the adjacent non-tumourous tissues was statistically significant. Knockdown of OCT4 in NSCLC cells could decrease cell proliferation, and potentiate apoptosis induced by gefitinib, suggesting OCT4 may contribute to gefitinib resistance in NSCLC.