Concurrent biological targeting therapy of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus with cetuximab and trastuzumab

Oncology Reports
Masanao YamazakiKosei Hirakawa

Abstract

The ERBB proteins are cell membrane tyrosine kinase receptors. Among these receptors, ERBB1 (EGFR or HER1) and ERBB2 (HER2/Neu) have been reported to be the most important in terms of the development and progression of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCC). Thus, targeting of ERBB1 and ERBB2 may become a promising strategy to treat SCC. In the present study, we examined ERBB1 and ERBB2 expression of SCC cell lines (TT, TE2, TE6 and TE10) and tumor samples. In addition, we evaluated the effect of the anti-ERBB1 antibody cetuximab and the anti-ERBB2 antibody trastuzumab for SCC in vitro and in vivo. Biological activities (receptor downregulation, the phosphorylation of MAPK and AKT) induced by the two agents were also investigated. Immunohistochemistry of SCC samples showed that ERBB1 was detected in 84%, while ERBB2 was detected in 30%. RT-PCR analysis revealed that ERBB1 and ERBB2 mRNA were detectable in all four cell lines. MTT cell proliferation analysis showed that cetuximab, but not trastuzumab, inhibited growth in each of the SCC cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Further, cetuximab and trastuzumab used together produced stronger inhibition of growth compared to cetuximab alone. Cetuximab downregulated ERBB1, ...Continue Reading

Citations

Feb 26, 2014·Annals of Surgical Oncology·Tatsuo MatsudaYuko Kitagawa
Feb 22, 2013·The Australasian Journal of Dermatology·Daniel C GaffneyFiona Simpson

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