Asbestos Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Asbestos, including details on mesothelioma, lung disease, dangers, effects, risks.

The selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor PD153035 suppresses expression of prometastasis phenotypes in malignant pleural mesothelioma cells in vitro.

Cole GW, Alleva AM, Reddy RM, Maxhimer JB, Zuo J, Schrump DS, Nguyen DM

Section of Thoracic Oncology, Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute/NIH, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

OBJECTIVE: Malignant pleural mesothelioma is notoriously refractory to aggressive multimodality therapy. Epidermal growth factor receptor expression has been observed on malignant pleural mesothelioma cells. Epidermal growth factor receptor-mediated signaling promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis of cancer cells. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor PD153035 to abrogate the expression of prometastasis phenotypes in malignant pleural mesothelioma cells in vitro. METHODS: Epidermal growth factor receptor expression of malignant pleural mesothelioma cells and primary normal cells was quantitated by means of flow cytometry. PD153035-mediated growth inhibition was determined by means of 1-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenylformazan and clonogenic assays. Cell motility and invasion of extracellular matrix was evaluated with in vitro wound-healing and Matrigel invasion assays, respectively. Vascular epidermal growth factor levels in conditioned media were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Epidermal growth factor receptor expression was detected on all 6 cultured malignant pleural mesothelioma cells, with 4 of 6 having normal receptor expression and 2 of 6 overexpressing the receptor. PD153035 suppressed cell motility and cell invasion through a Matrigel membrane, regardless of the baseline epidermal growth factor receptor expression. Decreased vascular epidermal growth factor production and significant inhibition of growth only occurred in malignant pleural mesothelioma cells that overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor. CONCLUSIONS: Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor PD153035 significantly inhibited motility and invasion in malignant pleural mesothelioma cells in vitro, regardless of their epidermal growth factor receptor expression levels. Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent signaling might be a useful strategy to diminish malignant pleural mesothelioma recurrence after aggressive cytoreductive surgery.

Published 3 May 2005 in J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 129(5): 1010-7.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Asbestos Research Today. All Rights Reserved.