Gefitinib (‘Iressa’, ZD1839), a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth, invasion, and colony formation

  • Authors:
    • Junsheng Li
    • Jörg Kleeff
    • Nathalia Giese
    • Markus W. Büchler
    • Murray Korc
    • Helmut Friess
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 1, 2004     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.25.1.203
  • Pages: 203-210
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Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating malignancy, characterized by low responsiveness to conventional chemotherapies. Gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) has shown clinical activity against EGFR-expressing tumors. Since pancreatic cancers frequently overexpress EGFR (ErbB-1) and its ligands, our aim was to investigate the potential role of gefitinib in this disease. The GI50 of gefitinib as well as the effects of gefitinib on growth factor actions in pancreatic cancer cell lines were analyzed using MTT assays. FACS analysis using Annexin and propidium iodide (PI) staining were performed to study cell cycle, apoptosis and cell death. Western blot analysis was carried out to investigate expression levels of the 4 members of the ErbB family of receptors in pancreatic cancer cell lines, as well as MAP kinase and EGFR phosphorylation. Soft agar assays were used to measure colony formations. Invasiveness of cancer cells was analyzed using Matrigel-coated filters. gefitinib inhibited cell proliferation of pancreatic cancer cell lines with GI50 concentrations ranging from 2.5 to over 10 µM. Gefitinib completely inhibited EGF-induced cell proliferation, but did not significantly influence insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-induced mitogenesis. Gefitinib also completely abolished EGF-induced phosphorylation of EGFR and MAP kinase. Furthermore, gefitinib inhibited basal and EGF-induced anchorage-independent cell growth and invasion. Our data demonstrate that gefitinib inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth through EGFR-dependent pathways. Gefitinib also inhibits anchorage-independent growth and invasiveness, suggesting that gefitinib may offer a new approach for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

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July 2004
Volume 25 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Li J, Kleeff J, Giese N, Büchler MW, Korc M and Friess H: Gefitinib (‘Iressa’, ZD1839), a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth, invasion, and colony formation. Int J Oncol 25: 203-210, 2004
APA
Li, J., Kleeff, J., Giese, N., Büchler, M.W., Korc, M., & Friess, H. (2004). Gefitinib (‘Iressa’, ZD1839), a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth, invasion, and colony formation. International Journal of Oncology, 25, 203-210. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.25.1.203
MLA
Li, J., Kleeff, J., Giese, N., Büchler, M. W., Korc, M., Friess, H."Gefitinib (‘Iressa’, ZD1839), a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth, invasion, and colony formation". International Journal of Oncology 25.1 (2004): 203-210.
Chicago
Li, J., Kleeff, J., Giese, N., Büchler, M. W., Korc, M., Friess, H."Gefitinib (‘Iressa’, ZD1839), a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth, invasion, and colony formation". International Journal of Oncology 25, no. 1 (2004): 203-210. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.25.1.203