Targeting N6-methyladenosine demethylase FTO overcomes osimertinib resistance by inducing G0/G1 phase arrest in an m6A-dependent manner in lung adenocarcinoma

Resistance to osimertinib, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), is a significant challenge for patients with advanced EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO), an N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) demethylase, plays a critical role in the occurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance of various tumors. We found that high FTO expression was significantly associated with resistance to osimertinib in advanced LUAD patients harboring EGFR mutations. In vitro experiments indicated that FTO enhanced the resistance of LUAD cells to osimertinib by reducing m⁶A modification. FTO silencing induced G0/G1 phase arrest in resistant cells in an m⁶A-dependent manner, restoring osimertinib sensitivity. Both in vivo and in vitro studies showed that FB23-2, an FTO inhibitor, synergistically suppressed the growth of resistant cells in combination with osimertinib. Furthermore, LUAD patient-derived organoids maintained histological and genetic consistency with patient tissues, where FTO was highly expressed in osimertinib-resistant organoids. The combination of FB23-2 and osimertinib effectively inhibited the growth of osimertinib-resistant organoids. Overall, this study demonstrates that FTO promotes osimertinib resistance and targeting FTO induces G0/G1 arrest in an m⁶A-dependent manner. The combination of FTO inhibitor and osimertinib provides a strategy to override osimertinib resistance.

Drug resistance; FTO; Lung adenocarcinoma; M(6)A; Organoid; Osimertinib.