Synergistic inhibition of breast cancer cell lines with a dual inhibitor of EGFR-HER-2/neu and a Bcl-2 inhibitor

  • Authors:
    • Lois M. Witters
    • Amy Witkoski
    • Maricarmen D. Planas-Silva
    • Mark Berger
    • Jean Viallet
    • Allan Lipton
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 1, 2007     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.17.2.465
  • Pages: 465-469
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Abstract

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (ErbB1) and HER-2/neu (ErbB2) are members of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases. These receptors are overexpressed in a variety of human tumors and overexpression generally correlates with poor prognosis and decreased survival. Lapatinib, a reversible inhibitor of both EGFR and HER-2/neu, has shown some success in achieving clinical responses in heavily pretreated advanced cancer patients. GW2974 is a reversible dual inhibitor similar to lapatinib, but GW2974 was not progressed to clinical trials due to pharmacokinetic issues. Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein, is also overexpressed in a number of human tumors. Bcl-2 inhibitors induce apoptosis and sensitize cancer cells to other therapies. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of combining ErbB and Bcl-2 inhibitors on the growth of human breast cancer cell lines. EGFR/HER-2/neu tyrosine kinase inhibitors (lapatinib and GW2974) were combined with Bcl-2 inhibitors (HA14-1 or GX15-070) and the anti-proliferative effects were determined by the MTT tetrazolium dye assay. Combinations were tested in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, a HER-2/neu transfected MCF-7 cell line (MCF/18), and a tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cell line (MTR-3). A synergistic inhibitory effect was observed with the combination of inhibitors of EGFR-HER-2/neu (lapatinib or GW2974) and Bcl-2 (GX15-070 or HA14-1) on the growth of the MCF-7, MCF/18, and MTR-3 human breast cancer cell lines. This study suggests that simultaneously blocking the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases and Bcl-2 family of proteins may be a benefit to breast cancer patients.

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February 2007
Volume 17 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Witters LM, Witkoski A, Planas-Silva MD, Berger M, Viallet J and Lipton A: Synergistic inhibition of breast cancer cell lines with a dual inhibitor of EGFR-HER-2/neu and a Bcl-2 inhibitor. Oncol Rep 17: 465-469, 2007
APA
Witters, L.M., Witkoski, A., Planas-Silva, M.D., Berger, M., Viallet, J., & Lipton, A. (2007). Synergistic inhibition of breast cancer cell lines with a dual inhibitor of EGFR-HER-2/neu and a Bcl-2 inhibitor. Oncology Reports, 17, 465-469. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.17.2.465
MLA
Witters, L. M., Witkoski, A., Planas-Silva, M. D., Berger, M., Viallet, J., Lipton, A."Synergistic inhibition of breast cancer cell lines with a dual inhibitor of EGFR-HER-2/neu and a Bcl-2 inhibitor". Oncology Reports 17.2 (2007): 465-469.
Chicago
Witters, L. M., Witkoski, A., Planas-Silva, M. D., Berger, M., Viallet, J., Lipton, A."Synergistic inhibition of breast cancer cell lines with a dual inhibitor of EGFR-HER-2/neu and a Bcl-2 inhibitor". Oncology Reports 17, no. 2 (2007): 465-469. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.17.2.465