Brigitta Ignoto

Dr. Brigitta Ignoto

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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6 June 2026 in Cells
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BIBrigitta Ignoto
Brigitta Ignoto
IPIlaria Assunta Parisi
Ilaria Assunta Parisi
CRCristin Roma
Cristin Roma
RCROSA CAMERLINGO
ROSA CAMERLINGO
SDSerena Dotolo
Serena Dotolo
DFDaniela Frezzetti
Daniela Frezzetti
Mechanisms of primary and acquired resistance are responsible for treatment failure with the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) in the majority of patients with advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) carrying EGFR-activating mutations. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important modulators of EGFR signaling in lung cancer. Recent studies suggested the role of miR-23c as a tumor suppressor or oncogenic miRNA in different tumor types. However, the role of miR-23c in NSCLC carrying EGFR mutations and its involvement in resistance to EGFR-TKIs has not been explored yet. We found that miR-23c was strongly downregulated in H1975 and HCC827-Gefitinib-Resistant (GR) NSCLC cell lines with intrinsic and acquired resistance to gefitinib, respectively, as compared to gefitinib-sensitive cell lines. Moreover, we demonstrated that miR-23c mimic inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition of resistant cells and that Interleukin-6 Receptor (IL-6R) is a direct target of miR-23c in H1975 and HCC827-GR cell lines. Importantly, miR-23c mimic re-sensitized NSCLC-resistant cells to gefitinib, whereas the combination of miR-23c mimic with a neutralizing IL-6R antibody potentiated the sensitivity to the drug. Collectively, our data demonstrated that miR-23c acts as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC cell lines carrying EGFR mutations and that the axis miR-23c/IL-6R might represent a potential target for the development of therapeutic approaches to overcome resistance to gefitinib.