title: Cetuximab inhibits cisplatin-induced activation of EGFR signaling in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Junhye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeon-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Molecular Imaging Research Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Sup
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Molecular Imaging Research Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hae Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Chul
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002945:Cisplatin