SPP1 promotes cancer stemness and reduces osimertinib sensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer through interactions with CD44.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes a significant proportion of lung cancers and poses a serious threat to human health. Osimertinib is the first-line drug for treating NSCLC, but long-term use can lead to drug resistance. Exploring the mechanism of drug resistance and effectively selecting treatment plans based on the mechanism of resistance are urgent issues to be addressed. In this study, dryness characteristics were evaluated by measuring cell activity, cell spheroid formation and cloning conditions, and the levels of stem cell marker molecules. The sensitivity of SPP1 to osimertinib was also assessed in mice. The results showed that SPP1 regulates cancer stem cells (CSCs) by interacting with CD44, thereby generating osimertinib resistance. These findings provide a basis for clinical research.