Abstract | PURPOSE: EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A high-throughput RNA interference (RNAi) screen was carried out to identify candidate genes. Selected gene hits were further confirmed and mechanisms of action were further investigated using various assays. RESULTS: Six gene hits from siRNA screening were confirmed to significantly sensitize BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells to erlotinib. One of the hits, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 1, was selected for further mechanistic studies. Combination treatments of erlotinib and two MAP kinase kinase ( MEK) inhibitors, RDEA119 and AZD6244, showed significant synergistic effect for both combinations (RDEA119-erlotinib and AZD6244-erlotinib) compared with the corresponding single drug treatments in pancreatic cancer cell lines with wild-type KRAS (BxPC-3 and Hs 700T) but not in cell lines with mutant KRAS (MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1). The enhanced antitumor activity of the combination treatment was further verified in the BxPC-3 and MIA PaCa-2 mouse xenograft model. Examination of the MAPK signaling pathway by Western blotting indicated effective inhibition of the EGFR signaling by the drug combination in KRAS wild-type cells but not in KRAS mutant cells. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results suggest that combination therapy of an EGFR and MEK inhibitors may have enhanced efficacy in patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Authors | Caroline H Diep, Ruben M Munoz, Ashish Choudhary, Daniel D Von Hoff, Haiyong Han |
Journal | Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
(Clin Cancer Res)
Vol. 17
Issue 9
Pg. 2744-56
(May 01 2011)
ISSN: 1557-3265 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 21385921
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | ©2011 AACR. |
Chemical References |
- KRAS protein, human
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins
- Quinazolines
- Erlotinib Hydrochloride
- MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
- ras Proteins
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Topics |
- Animals
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal
(drug therapy, genetics, pathology)
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation
(drug effects)
- Drug Synergism
- Erlotinib Hydrochloride
- Female
- Humans
- MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases
(antagonists & inhibitors)
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred ICR
- Mice, SCID
- Mice, Transgenic
- Mutation
(physiology)
- Pancreatic Neoplasms
(drug therapy, genetics, pathology)
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors
(administration & dosage, pharmacology)
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins
(genetics, metabolism)
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
- Quinazolines
(administration & dosage, pharmacology)
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- ras Proteins
(genetics, metabolism)
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