Combinatory inhibition of TRIM65 and MDM2 in lung cancer cells

In addition to the involvement in white matter lesion, tripartite-motif protein family member 65 (TRIM65) has also been implicated in tumorigenesis as a potential oncogene. However, the underlining mechanisms of TRIM65 functions and its clinical implication still remain to be further elucidated. In the present study, we found that TRIM65 binds to the N-terminus of p53 tumor suppressor and thus competes with MDM2 for p53 binding. Intriguingly, analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) gene alteration database revealed that elevated expression of TRIM65 is mutually exclusive to MDM2 up-regulation in human lung adenocarcinoma patients, indicating potential compensatory effect of one over the other. Indeed, overexpression of TRIM65 renders lung cancer cell line resistance to Nutlin-3a, an effective MDM2 inhibitor, as determined by p53 activation and cell proliferation assays. Furthermore, depletion of TRIM65 using siRNA in combination with Nutlin-3a treatment demonstrates enhanced anti-tumor effects on lung cancer cell line. Collectively, our findings provide the rationale for developing strategies to target TRIM65 for lung cancer intervention, potentially in combination with MDM2 inhibition.