Targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor by gefitinib for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancer-related causes of death worldwide. Due to very poor 5-year-survival new therapeutic approaches are mandatory. Gefitinib, an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK), potently suppresses the growth of various tumors, but its effect on HCC remains unexplored. We therefore studied the antineoplastic potency of gefitinib in human HCC cells.


RESULTS
Gefitinib induced a time- and dose-dependent growth inhibition of the human HCC cell lines Huh-7 and HepG2. Gefitinib-treatment induced both mitochondria-dependent and -independent apoptosis. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase-8 activation, followed by caspase-3 activation and nuclear degradation, were detected. Moreover, gefitinib induced cell cycle arrest at the G1/S checkpoint and decreased the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK1/2. Finally, gefitinib suppressed the expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L), further rendering HCC cells prone to apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrate that the inhibition of EGFR-TK by gefitinib induced growth inhibition, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human HCC cells. Thus, EGFR-TK inhibition appears to be a promising novel approach for future treatment strategies of HCC.
Höpfner
Michael
M
Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Medical Clinic I, Gastroenterology/Infectious Diseases/Rheumatology, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
Sutter
Andreas P
AP
Huether
Alexander
A
Schuppan
Detlef
D
Zeitz
Martin
M
Scherübl
Hans
H
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin / Q000235:genetics; D051020:bcl-X Protein
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011799:Quinazolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D000077156:Gefitinib