gw2974 and Cell-Transformation--Neoplastic

The erbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases are known to play important roles in normal epithelial development and epithelial neoplasia. Considerable evidence also suggests that signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in multistage skin carcinogenesis in mice; however, less is known about the role of erbB2. In this study, to further examine the role of both erbB2 and EGFR in epithelial carcinogenesis, we examined the effect of a dual erbB2/EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, GW2974, given in the diet on skin tumor promotion during two-stage carcinogenesis in wild-type and BK5.erbB2 mice. In BK5.erbB2 mice, erbB2 is overexpressed in the basal layer of epidermis and leads to heightened sensitivity to skin tumor development. GW2974 effectively inhibited skin tumor promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in wild-type and BK5.erbB2 mice, although a more marked effect was seen in BK5.erbB2 mice. In addition, this inhibitory effect was reversible when GW2974 treatment was withdrawn. GW2974 inhibited 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced epidermal hyperproliferation, which correlated with reduced activation of both the EGFR and erbB2. These results support the hypothesis that both the EGFR and erbB2 play an important role in the development of skin tumors during two-stage skin carcinogenesis, especially during the tumor promotion stage. Furthermore, the marked sensitivity of BK5.erbB2 mice to the inhibitory effects of GW2974 during tumor promotion suggest greater efficacy for this compound when erbB2 is overexpressed or amplified as an early event in the carcinogenic process.

Topics: Algorithms; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Disease Progression; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; ErbB Receptors; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Quinazolines; Receptor, ErbB-2; Skin Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome

Oral cancer is a common neoplasm worldwide with tobacco and alcohol being the major etiological factors contributing to its pathogenesis. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ErbB2 are known to be involved in the development of oral cancer with the former up-regulated in up to 90% human cases. The goal of this study was to evaluate the chemopreventive effects of a dual inhibitor of EGFR and ErbB2 tyrosine kinases, GW2974, in the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster cheek pouch model. A short-term experiment (3-week topical DMBA followed by 1-week topical GW2974) was conducted to examine the effects of GW2974 on aberrant arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism and cell proliferation in the hamster oral epithelium. Topical application of 0.1 ml GW2974 (160 microM, three times a week) significantly reduced the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), 5-, 12-, 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), and cell proliferation (BrdU-labeling index). In a long-term post-initiation experiment (6-week topical DMBA followed by 18-week topical GW2974), GW2974 (4 mM and 8 mM) significantly inhibited the incidence, number and size of visible tumors. Under microscope, the numbers of oral lesions (hyperplasia, dysplasia, carcinoma) and the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were also significantly suppressed by GW2974. In summary, our study indicated that dual inhibition of EGFR and ErbB2 tyrosine kinases by GW2974 was effective in preventing oral carcinogenesis in DMBA-induced hamster cheek pouch model. GW2974 exerted its chemopreventive effects in part by suppressing aberrant AA metabolism.

Topics: 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; Animals; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase; Carcinogens; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Cheek; Cricetinae; Dinoprostone; ErbB Receptors; Humans; Male; Mouth Mucosa; Mouth Neoplasms; Quinazolines; Receptor, ErbB-2