pki-166 and Carcinoma--Squamous-Cell

EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) is a transmembrane glycoprotein highly expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Once triggered by ligands, tyrosine kinase located at their inner part is phosphorylated, initiating signal transduction pathways towards the nucleus. Two categories of EGFR inhibitors are affordable: the former group includes monoclonal antibodies whereas the latter regards tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ITK). Acting more as cytostatic than cytotoxic agents, they may potentiate both chemotherapy (CT) and radiation therapy (RT). Characterized by a spectrum of toxicity that does not overlap that of CT or RT, they may be associated with these treatments. First clinical trials have demonstrated the feasibility of their administration. Side-effects merely consist of skin reactions and digestive symptoms; their intensity is generally mild and they resolve at the completion of treatment. As of yet, response rates are sometimes astounding but are still disparate. Randomized studies are ongoing. A better definition of EGFR status is warranted. Other data regarding interactions between her-family members, ligands parameters and the cascade regulation of signal transduction would certainly enable to better define the clinical applications of this new therapeutical approach.

Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cetuximab; ErbB Receptors; Erlotinib Hydrochloride; Gefitinib; Humans; Morpholines; Neoplasm Proteins; Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Pyrimidines; Pyrroles; Quinazolines

Cellular redox changes have emerged as a pivotal and proximal event in cancer. PKI 166 is used to determine the effects of redox sensitive inhibition of EGFR, metastasis and apoptosis in epidermoid carcinoma. Cytotoxicity study of PKI 166 (IC50 1.0 microM) treated A431 cells were performed by MTT assay for 48 and 72 hrs. Morphological analysis of PKI 166 treated A431 cells for 48 hrs. revealed the cell shrinkage, loss of filopodia and lamellipodia by phase contrast and SEM images in dose dependent manner. It has cytotoxic effects through inhibiting cellular proliferation, leads to the induction of apoptosis, as increased fraction of sub-G1 phase of the cell cycle, chromatin condensation and DNA ladder. It inhibited cyclin-D1 and cyclin-E expression and induced p53, p21 expression in dose dependent manner. Consequently, an imbalance of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio triggered caspase cascade and subsequent cleavage of PARP, thereby shifting the balance in favour of apoptosis. PKI 166 treatment actively stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. It inhibited some metastatic properties of A431 cells supressing colony formation by soft agar assay and inhibition of MMP 9 activity by gelatin zymography and western blot analysis. PKI 166 inhibited growth factor induced phosphorylation of EGFR, Akt, MAPK, JNK and colony formation in A431 cells. Thus the inhibition of proliferation was associated with redox regulation of the caspase cascade, EGFR, Akt/PI3K, MAPK/ ERK and JNK pathway. On the other hand, increased antioxidant activity leads to decreased ROS generation inhibit the anti-proliferative and apoptotic properties of PKI 166 in A431 cells. These observations indicated PKI 166 induced redox signalling dependent inhibition of cell proliferation, metastatic properties and induction of apoptotic potential in epidermoid carcinoma.

Topics: Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Caspases; Catalase; Cell Cycle; Cell Proliferation; Cytochromes c; ErbB Receptors; Humans; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mitochondria; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Oxidation-Reduction; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Pyrimidines; Pyrroles; Reactive Oxygen Species; Signal Transduction; Superoxide Dismutase; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

The aim of this study was to evaluate, whether PET with (18)F-FDG and 3'-deoxy-3'-(18)F-fluorothymidine ((18)F-FLT) may be used to monitor noninvasively the antiproliferative effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.. Using a high-resolution small animal scanner, we measured the effect of the ErbB-selective kinase inhibitor PKI-166 on the (18)F-FDG and (18)F-FLT uptake of ErbB1-overexpressing A431 xenograft tumors.. Treatment with PKI-166 markedly lowered tumor (18)F-FLT uptake within 48 h of drug exposure; within 1 wk (18)F-FLT uptake decreased by 79%. (18)F-FLT uptake by the xenografts significantly correlated with the tumor proliferation index as determined by proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining (r = 0.71). Changes in (18)F-FLT uptake did not reflect inhibition of ErbB kinase activity itself but, rather, the effects of kinase inhibition on tumor cell proliferation. Tumor (18)F-FDG uptake generally paralleled the changes seen for (18)F-FLT. However, the baseline signal was significantly lower than that for (18)F-FLT.. These results indicate that (18)F-FLT PET provides noninvasive, quantitative, and repeatable measurements of tumor cell proliferation during treatment with ErbB kinase inhibitors and provide a rationale for the use this technology in clinical trials of kinase inhibitors.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Dideoxynucleosides; Disease Models, Animal; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Humans; Mice; Mice, SCID; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Positron-Emission Tomography; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Pyrimidines; Pyrroles; Radiopharmaceuticals; Treatment Outcome

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been proposed as a key modulator of cadherin-containing intercellular junctions, particularly in tumors that overexpress this tyrosine kinase. Here the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor PKI166 and EGFR blocking antibody C225, both of which are used clinically to treat head and neck cancers, were used to determine the effects of EGFR inhibition on intercellular junction assembly and adhesion in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. EGFR inhibition resulted in a transition from a fibroblastic morphology to a more epithelial phenotype in cells grown in low calcium; under these conditions cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion is normally reduced, and desmosomes are absent. The accumulated levels of desmoglein 2 (Dsg2) and desmocollin 2 increased 1.7-2.0-fold, and both desmosomal cadherin and plaque components were recruited to cell-cell borders. This redistribution was paralleled by an increase in Dsg2 and desmoplakin in the Triton-insoluble cell fraction, suggesting that EGFR blockade promotes desmosome assembly. Importantly, E-cadherin expression and solubility were unchanged. Furthermore, PKI166 blocked tyrosine phosphorylation of Dsg2 and plakoglobin following epidermal growth factor stimulation, whereas no change in phosphorylation was detected for E-cadherin and beta-catenin. The increase in Dsg2 protein was in part due to the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-dependent proteolysis of this desmosomal cadherin. These morphological and biochemical changes were accompanied by an increase in intercellular adhesion based on functional assays at all calcium concentrations tested. Our results suggest that EGFR inhibition promotes desmosome assembly in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells, resulting in increased cell-cell adhesion.

Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Agents; Cadherins; Calcium; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Adhesion; Cell Communication; Cell Line, Tumor; Cetuximab; Culture Media, Conditioned; Cytoskeletal Proteins; Desmocollins; Desmoglein 2; Desmogleins; Desmoplakins; Desmosomes; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; ErbB Receptors; gamma Catenin; Humans; Immunoblotting; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; Mouth Neoplasms; Phenotype; Phosphorylation; Precipitin Tests; Pyrimidines; Pyrroles; Subcellular Fractions; Tyrosine