LncRNA H19 downregulation confers erlotinib resistance through upregulation of PKM2 and phosphorylation of AKT in EGFR-mutant lung cancers

First-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as erlotinib have significant activity in NSCLC patients with activating EGFR mutations. However, EGFR-TKI resistance inevitably occurs after approximately 12 months of treatment. Acquired mechanisms of resistance, other than secondary mutations in EGFR (T790 M) which account for 50–60%, are less well understood. Here, we identified lncRNA H19 as a significantly downregulated lncRNA in vitro models and clinical specimens with acquired EGFR-TKI resistance, H19 knockdown or overexpression conferred resistance or sensitivity, respectively, both in vitro and in vivo models. H19 downregulation contributed to erlotinib resistance through interaction and upregulation of PKM2, which enhanced the phosphorylation of AKT. AKT inhibitors restored the sensitivity of erlotinib-resistant cells to erlotinib. In EGFR-mutant patients treated with EGFR-TKIs, low H19 levels were associated with a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) (P = 0.021). These findings revealed a novel mechanism of low-level H19 in the regulation of erlotinib resistance in EGFR-mutant lung cancers. Combination of AKT inhibitors and EGFR-TKIs could be a rational therapeutic approach for some subgroups of EGFR-mutant lung cancer patients. •LncRNA H19 is downregulated in vitro models and clinical specimens with acquired EGFR-TKI resistance.•H19 knockdown or overexpression confers resistance or sensitivity, respectively, both in vitro and in vivo models.•H19 regulates EGFR-TKI resistance by interacting with PKM2, which mediates AKT activation.•AKT inhibitors restore the sensitivity of erlotinib-resistant cells to erlotinib.