Cetuximab inhibits cisplatin-induced activation of EGFR signaling in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Kwon,Junhye; Yoon,Hyeon-Joon; Kim,Ji-Hee; Lee,Tae  Sup; Song,In  Ho; Lee,Hae  Won; Kang,Moon  Chul; Park,Jong  Ho

doi:10.3892/or.2014.3302

Cetuximab inhibits cisplatin-induced activation of EGFR signaling in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Authors:
- Junhye Kwon
- Hyeon-Joon Yoon
- Ji-Hee Kim
- Tae Sup Lee
- In Ho Song
- Hae Won Lee
- Moon Chul Kang
- Jong Ho Park
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Affiliations: Department of Translational Research, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Published online on: July 3, 2014 https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2014.3302
Pages: 1188-1192

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Abstract

A malignant esophageal cancer, squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most prevalent cancers. Despite the use of present surgical techniques combined with various treatment modalities, the overall 5-year survival rate remains at 15-34%. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is the most well studied receptor in various cancers and EGFR overexpression is detected in 40% of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) and ESCC cell lines. To examine the EGFR antibody combination effect, we used treatment with cisplatin and cetuximab in ESCC cell lines, TE-4 and TE-8. Combination of cetuximab and cisplatin resulted in a growth inhibition only in the EGFR overexpressed TE-8 cell line. Furthermore, we confirmed that cisplatin-induced EGFR activation was inhibited by cetuximab in TE-8 but not in TE-4 cells. Our data suggest that cetuximab combined with cisplatin exerts antitumorigenic effects in vitro and in vivo via suppression of EGF signaling, which can be applied toward targeted ESCC treatments.

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