title: EGFR and VEGFR as potential target for biological therapies in HCC cells.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly malignant cancer with poor prognosis. Inhibitors of EGFR and VEGFR for HCC treatment are currently under investigation. Gefitinib and vandetanib inhibit migration of HCC cells on Laminin-5 and Fibronectin, and invasion through matrigel. Both drugs inhibit p-EGFR after short time, while their efficacy on p-Erk1/2 and p-Akt is progressive and stable over time. PI3K/Akt and MEK/Erk1/2 inhibitors, inhibit migration and invasion as well as inducing de-phosphorylation of downstream effectors. Finally, both inhibitors, vandetanib and gefitinib down-regulated the secretion of matrix metalloproteases MMP-2 and MMP-9. All these biological effects seem to depend on the activity of gefitinib and vandetanib blocking activity towards p-EGFR mediated pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy. g.giannelli@intmed.uniba.it
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannelli
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sgarra
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Porcelli
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azzariti
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antonaci
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paradiso
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D010880:Piperidines; D011799:Quinazolines; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D000077156:Gefitinib; C452423:vandetanib