Transcription Factor p53 Suppresses Tumor Growth by Prompting Pyroptosis in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of p53 on pyroptosis and its inhibitory role on tumor growth in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: The correlation of p53 and pyroptosis was determined in tumor tissues of NSCLC patients. The pyroptotic level was detected in A549 cells to clarify the effect of p53 on pyroptosis. p53 overexpression A549 tumor-bearing mice were used to clarify the therapeutic target of p53 in NSCLC treatment. RESULTS: p53 expression level was positively related to pyroptosis in NSCLC tissues. In in vitro assays, p53 directly regulated pyroptosis in A549 cells. p53-specific knockdown blocked lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced pyroptosis. In in vivo assays, p53 overexpression in A549 markedly decreased tumor growth and death rate by increasing the pyroptotic level. CONCLUSIONS: Upregulation of p53 prompts pyroptosis to produce anti-NSCLC effects suggesting the potential of p53 on suppressing tumor growth in NSCLC patients.