Skip to main content
. 2020 Dec 17;40(6):1162–1175. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-01597-1

Fig. 6. A proposed working model.

Fig. 6

LKB1 activation due to glycolysis inhibition is essential for the antiproliferative activity of EGFR TKI in EGFRWT NSCLCs by activating AMPK to suppress mTORC1 function. However, cigarette smoke and its ingredient B[α]P represses LKB1 expression by enhancing its promoter CpG island methylation which renders NSCLC cells resistant to EGFR TKI. The addition of AMPK activator metformin can overcome EGFR TKI resistance in response to cigarette smoke exposure in patients with EGFRWT NSCLC.