Crizotinib resistance reversal in ALK-positive lung cancer through zeolitic imidazolate framework-based mitochondrial...

Crizotinib (CRZ), one of anaplastic lymphoma kinase tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs), has emerged as a frontline treatment for ALK-positive (ALK+) lung adenocarcinoma. However, the overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp, a mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent protein) in lung adenocarcinoma lesions causes multidrug resistance (MDR) and limits the efficacy of CRZ treatment. Herein, a mitochondria-targeting nanosystem, zeolitic imidazolate framework-90@indocyanine green (ZIF-90@ICG), was fabricated to intervene in mitochondria and overcome drug resistance. Due to the zinc ion (Zn²⁺) interference of ZIF-90 and the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of ICG, this nanosystem is well suited for damaging mitochondrial functions, thus downregulating the intracellular ATP level and inhibiting P-gp expression. In addition, systematic bioinformatics analysis revealed the upregulation of CD44 in CRZ-resistant cells. Therefore, hyaluronic acid (HA, a critical target ligand of CD44) was further modified on the surface of ZIF-90@ICG for active targeting. Overall, this ZIF-90@ICG nanosystem synergistically increased the intracellular accumulation of CRZ and reversed CRZ resistance to enhance its anticancer effect, which provides guidance for nanomedicine design to accurately target tumours and induce mitochondrial damage and represents a viable regimen for improving the prognosis of patients with ALK-TKIs resistance. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The original aim of our research was to combat multidrug resistance (MDR) in highly aggressive and lethal lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) lung adenocarcinoma. For this purpose, a cascade-targeted system was designed to overcome MDR, integrating lung adenocarcinoma-targeted hyaluronic acid (HA), mitochondrion-targeted zeolitic imidazolate framework-90 (ZIF-90), the clinically approved drug crizotinib (CRZ), and the fluorescence imaging agent/photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG). Moreover, using a "two birds with one stone" strategy, ion interference and oxidative stress induced by ZIF-90 and photodynamic therapy (PDT), respectively, disrupt mitochondrial homeostasis, thus downregulating adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, inhibiting MDR-relevant P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression and suppressing tumour metastasis. Overall, this research represents an attempt to implement the concept of MDR reversal and realize the trade-offs between MDR and therapeutic effectiveness.