J Korean Assoc Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg.  2009 Jan;31(1):8-17.

Targeted Molecular Therapy in a Murine Model of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma with an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor

• Park YW

Abstract

PURPOSE: We determined the therapeutic effect of an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb), cetuximab (Erbitux) on the growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) xenografted in athymic nude mice. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We induced subcutaneous tumors by inoculating human tumor cell suspension into the right flank of nude mice. Nude mice with subcutaneous tumors were randomized to receive cetuximab alone, paclitaxel alone, cetuximab plus paclitaxel, or a placebo (control). Antitumor mechanisms of cetuximab were determined by immunohistochemical and apoptosis assays.
RESULTS
Cetuximab, paclitaxel, and cetuximab/paclitaxel combined therapy resulted in 50%, 52%, 67% in vivo inhibition of tumor proliferation, respectively. Tumors of mice treated with cetuximab plus paclitaxel demonstrated decreased PCNA-positive tumor cells and increased apoptotic tumor cells, which slowed growth of the murine tumors.
CONCLUSION
These data show that EGFR can be a molecular target for the treatment of OSCC. And combination therapy with cetuximab and paclitaxel warrants further clinical study.

Keyword

Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Epidermal growth factor receptor; Cetuximab; Molecular target

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Apoptosis
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Cetuximab
Epidermal Growth Factor
Humans
Mice
Mice, Nude
Molecular Targeted Therapy
Paclitaxel
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
Transplantation, Heterologous
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Epidermal Growth Factor
Paclitaxel
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor