1. Ramucirumab and GSK1838705A Enhance the Inhibitory Effects of Low Concentration Sorafenib and Regorafenib Combination on HCC Cell Growth and Motility
- Author
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Brian I. Carr, Pasqua Letizia Pesole, Maria Grazia Refolo, Caterina Messa, Palma Aurelia Iacovazzi, and Rosalba D'Alessandro
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Sorafenib ,MAPK/ERK pathway ,Cancer Research ,α fetoprotein ,medicine.medical_treatment ,lcsh:RC254-282 ,Article ,combination therapy ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,des-γ-carboxyprothrombin ,0302 clinical medicine ,multi-kinase inhibitors ,Regorafenib ,synergism ,medicine ,Clonogenic assay ,Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor ,Chemistry ,Cell growth ,Growth factor ,lcsh:Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,digestive system diseases ,3. Good health ,030104 developmental biology ,Oncology ,insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Toxicity ,Cancer research ,medicine.drug ,vascular endothelial growth factor receptor - Abstract
Several new multikinase inhibitors have recently been introduced into clinical practice for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. Small increases in survival were reported as well as considerable toxicity. There is thus a need for effective therapies with lower toxicities. We examined whether a combination of sorafenib and regorafenib might also be effective at very low concentrations, with resulting potential for lessened clinical toxicity. MTT test, clonogenic assay, Ki67 staining and cell cycle analysis were assessed for cell proliferation and Annexin V and western blotting analysis relative to the expression of cleaved Caspase-3 and BID for cell apoptosis. In these experimental conditions cell growth and migration were potently inhibited and apoptosis induced even in HCC cells producing high alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels (clinically worse prognosis). The combination also inhibited levels of the two HCC biomarkers, AFP and des gamma carboxy prothrombin (DCP). Additional inhibition of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR) or Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Receptor (IGF1R) enhanced effects on AFP and DCP levels, cell growth inhibition and MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling inhibition due to sorafenib/regorafenib combination. These combinations have the potential for decreased toxicity while simultaneously enhancing therapeutic effects. This potential decrease in toxicity is being explored in ongoing studies.
- Published
- 2019