# MicroRNA Mimics Based on the miR-15/107 Consensus Sequence Sensitise NSCLC Cells to Targeted Therapy

## TL;DR

This study shows that a synthetic microRNA mimic can make lung cancer cells more responsive to targeted therapies and reduce drug resistance.

## Contribution

The study introduces a miR-15/107 consensus mimic that enhances targeted therapy efficacy in NSCLC cells.

## Key findings

- The conmiR-15/107 mimic inhibited growth in EGFR- and KRAS-mutant NSCLC cells but not in normal bronchial cells.
- Combining the mimic with EGFR or KRAS inhibitors increased growth inhibition and reduced drug resistance in cancer cells.
- The mimic reduced survival of drug-tolerant persister cells and downregulated key oncogenic targets like MEK1, BCL2, and BRCA1.

## Abstract

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths, with resistance to targeted therapies posing a major clinical challenge. Drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cells are key contributors to resistance, and targeting them offers new strategies to enhance existing treatments. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), particularly the tumour-suppressive miR-15/107 family, offer promise due to their ability to target multiple oncogenic pathways. This study evaluated a synthetic consensus miRNA mimic, conmiR-15/107, in NSCLC cell line models. Dose–response assays showed robust, dose-dependent growth inhibition in both EGFR-mutant (PC9) and KRAS-mutant (H358 and A549) lung adenocarcinoma cells, but not in the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. When combined with EGFR inhibitors (osimertinib and gefitinib) in PC9 cells, the mimics showed a higher rate of growth inhibition compared with the controls and reduced IC50 values. Similarly, conmiR-15/107 enhanced growth inhibition by the KRAS inhibitors sotorasib and adagrasib in H358 cells. RT-qPCR confirmed downregulation of conmiR-15/107 targets, including MEK1, BCL2 and BRCA1, suggesting a multi-target mechanism of action. Long-term assays showed that the mimics reduced the survival and delayed the proliferation of DTPs in osimertinib-treated PC9 cells as well as sotorasib-treated H358 cells. These findings support conmiR-15/107 as a potential adjunct to targeted therapy, capable of enhancing treatment efficacy and delaying resistance in lung adenocarcinoma.