Targeting FOXE1 -Mediated LAMC2 Expression to Improve Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy Outcomes in Lung Cancer Patients at Risk of Brain Metastasis

Abstract

Objective:

This study elucidated the role of the forkhead box E1 (FOXE1)–laminin γ2 (LAMC2) signaling axis in promoting brain metastasis (BM) of lung cancer and evaluated its potential as a therapeutic target to enhance the efficacy of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Methods:

Bioinformatics analysis of the GSE126548 dataset revealed a significant association between elevated FOXE1 expression and BM in lung cancer patients. Functional in vitro assays—including real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, migration, invasion, and endothelial permeability assays—were conducted in lung cancer cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells exposed to tumor-conditioned media. In addition, in vivo xenograft and BM mouse models were established to assess the impact of FOXE1 on tumor growth, metastatic potential, and treatment responsiveness.

Results:

FOXE1 knockdown significantly inhibited lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Mechanistically, LAMC2 was identified as a downstream effector of FOXE1, with rescue experiments confirming that the FOXE1–LAMC2 axis plays a central role in driving tumor progression and brain metastatic potential. Notably, FOXE1 silencing enhanced sensitivity to CRT in preclinical models.

Conclusions:

FOXE1 promotes lung cancer progression and BM by upregulating LAMC2. Targeting the FOXE1–LAMC2 pathway may improve the efficacy of preoperative CRT and offers a promising strategy for therapeutic intervention in lung cancer patients at high risk of BM.