Radiosensitization of epidermal growth factor receptor/HER2-positive pancreatic cancer is mediated by inhibition of Akt independent of ras mutational status.
OBJECTIVE
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family members (e.g., EGFR, HER2, HER3, and HER4) are commonly overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. We investigated the effects of inhibition of EGFR/HER2 signaling on pancreatic cancer to elucidate the role(s) of EGFR/HER2 in radiosensitization and to provide evidence in support of further clinical investigations.


METHODS
Expression of EGFR family members in pancreatic cancer lines was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Cell growth inhibition was determined by MTS assay. The effects of inhibition of EGFR family receptors and downstream signaling pathways on in vitro radiosensitivity were evaluated using clonogenic assays. Growth delay was used to evaluate the effects of nelfinavir on in vivo tumor radiosensitivity.


RESULTS
Lapatinib inhibited cell growth in four pancreatic cancer cell lines, but radiosensitized only wild-type K-ras-expressing T3M4 cells. Akt activation was blocked in a wild-type K-ras cell line, whereas constitutive phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was seen in lines expressing mutant K-ras. Overexpression of constitutively active K-ras (G12V) abrogated lapatinib-mediated inhibition of both Akt phosphorylation and radiosensitization. Inhibition of MAP/ERK kinase/ERK signaling with U0126 had no effect on radiosensitization, whereas inhibition of activated Akt with LY294002 (enhancement ratio, 1.2-1.8) or nelfinavir (enhancement ratio, 1.2-1.4) radiosensitized cells regardless of K-ras mutation status. Oral nelfinavir administration to mice bearing mutant K-ras-containing Capan-2 xenografts resulted in a greater than additive increase in radiation-mediated tumor growth delay (synergy assessment ratio of 1.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Inhibition of EGFR/HER2 enhances radiosensitivity in wild-type K-ras pancreatic cancer. Nelfinavir, and other phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt inhibitors, are effective pancreatic radiosensitizers regardless of K-ras mutation status.
Kimple
Randall J
RJ
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. rkimple@unch.unc.edu
Vaseva
Angelina V
AV
Cox
Adrienne D
AD
Baerman
Kathryn M
KM
Calvo
Benjamin F
BF
Tepper
Joel E
JE
Shields
Janiel M
JM
Sartor
Carolyn I
CI
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D000077341:Lapatinib; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009154:Mutation; D019888:Nelfinavir / Q000494:pharmacology; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077341:Lapatinib; D019888:Nelfinavir; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D011799:Quinazolines; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human