Effect of chemotherapy combination with AgNPs, AgNO3, and NaHCO3 on the progression of non-small lung cancer via targeting cancer stem cell genes

Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), are a heterogeneous group representing most lung cancer cases. NSCLC is one of the most genomically diverse tumors, regardless of the histological subtype. This study investigated the therapeutic potential effect of chemotherapy combination with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), AgNO3, and NaHCO3 on cancer stem cells (CSCs) related genes expression of NSCLC. Sixty-four patients with NSCLC were included and divided into 4 groups according to the line of treatment AgNPs group, AgNO3 group, NaHCO3 group, and systemic chemotherapy control group. Radiological investigations and fiberoptic bronchoscopy were performed for all patients. CSCs-related gene expression was detected using RT-qPCR assay. The histopathological assessment showed a high rate of necrosis with AgNPs compared to that of NaHCO3, and systemic chemotherapy after treatment of NSCLC. There was a highly significant association (P ≤ 0.001) in the expression of EZRIN and NANOG with the combination therapy. Also, there was a significant association (P ≤ 0.05) in the expression of NOTCH1, CD44, SOX2, ABCG2, and CTNNBIP1. In conclusion, the panel of the following genes NOTCH1, CD44, SOX2, ABCG2, EZRIN, NANOG, and CTNNBIP1 are significantly associated with the combination therapy of lung cancer and further study is required to validate the liability of this panel as a potential predictive therapeutic value of this panel.