Effects of combining erlotinib and RNA-interfered downregulation of focal adhesion kinase expression on gastric cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the synergistic effects of combining erlotinib and RNA-interference downregulation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression on the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration of the human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line AGS.


METHODS
Cells were divided into five experimental groups: Group A, nontransfected control; Group B, transfected with empty vector; Group C, transfected with FAK-shRNA; Group D, erlotinib treatment; Group E, combination erlotinib treatment and transfected with FAK-shRNA. FAK protein levels were confirmed via Western blotting. Cell proliferation (CCK-8 assay, apoptosis (flow cytometry), cell invasion (transwell assay) and migration (scratch assay) were evaluated.


RESULTS
RNA interference significantly decreased FAK protein levels. Cell proliferation, invasion and migration were significantly lower in Groups C, D and E compared with Group A, and significantly lower in Group E than in Groups C and D.


CONCLUSIONS
RNA interference effectively silences FAK expression and inhibits malignant cell proliferation and invasion in gastric cancer cells. The effect of FAK inhibition is increased by co-treatment with erlotinib.
Teaching and Research Department of Oncology, Union Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China.
Rui
R
Feng
Teaching and Research Department of Oncology, Union Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China Department of Medical Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian, China Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine, Fujian, China Fujian Medical University Stem Cell Research Institute, Fuzhou, Fujian, China yangshjxh@163.com.
Sheng
S
Yang
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D014162:Transfection
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
FAK gene; RNA interference; erlotinib; gastric cancer