The inhibitory effect of cisplatin combined with pemetrexed on lung cancer cells via targeting miR-135 and ATG7

Lung cancer treatment is still based on chemotherapy. Autophagy involves in lung cancer. Our research aims to explore miR-135’s role in lung cancer. Tumor tissues were collected for analysis of autophagy. TargetScan bioinformatics assessed the relationship between miR-135 and ATG7. Immunofluorescence analyzed the co-localization of circRACGAP1 and miR-135. circRACGAP1 was silenced to assess its role in autophagy and lung cancer cell growth. In A549 cells, cisplatin combined with pemetrexed upregulated ATG7 and LC3-II, and downregulated squestosome 1 (SQSTM1). Significantly upregulated LC3-II and ATG7 and reduced SQSTM1 were found in cisplatin combined with pemetrexed group. miR-135 targeted ATG7 gene 3′-UTR region. Cisplatin combined with pemetrexed upregulated ATG7 by selectively inhibiting miR-135. circRACGAP1 was co-localized with miR-135. circRACGAP1 inhibition decreased lung cancer cell growth by inhibiting autophagy. circRACGAP1-miR-135-ATG7 axis involves in the regulatory effect of cisplatin combined with pemetrexed on lung cancer cell growth.