Antitumor effects of erlotinib in combination with berberine in A431 cells

BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology

Research

Xingying Yang¹  Weiwei Zhu¹  Xiangdan Cuan¹  Yue Zhao¹  Rui Luo¹  Yanping Huang²  Jun Sheng³  Xuanjun Wang⁴ 

[1] College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201, Kunming, China;Key Laboratory of Pu-er Tea Science, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, No. 452, Fengyuan Road, Panlong District, 650201, Kunming, China;College of Science, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201, Kunming, China;Key Laboratory of Pu-er Tea Science, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, No. 452, Fengyuan Road, Panlong District, 650201, Kunming, China;College of Science, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201, Kunming, China;State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, 650201, Kunming, China;Key Laboratory of Pu-er Tea Science, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, No. 452, Fengyuan Road, Panlong District, 650201, Kunming, China;State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, 650201, Kunming, China;Yunnan Research Institute of Plateau Characteristic Agricultural and Industry, 650201, Kunming, China;

关键词: Berberine;    Erlotinib;    EGFR positive cells;    Combination-therapy;    A431 cells;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40360-023-00661-2

 received in 2022-05-17, accepted in 2023-03-07,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundFirst-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), such as erlotinib, have been shown to target tumors with L858R (exon 21) and exon 19 deletions, resulting in significant clinical benefits. However, acquired resistance often occurs due to EGFR mutations. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of patients with EGFR-positive tumors are needed. Berberine (BBR) is an active alkaloid extracted from pharmaceutical plants such as Coptis chinensis. Berberine has been shown to significantly inhibit EGFR activity and mediate anticancer effects in multiple preclinical studies. We investigated whether combining BBR with erlotinib could augment erlotinib-induced cell growth inhibition of EGFR-positive cells in a mouse xenograft model.MethodsWe examined the antitumor activities and potential mechanisms of erlotinib in combination with berberine in vitro and in vivo using the MTT assay, immunoblotting, flow cytometry, and tumor xenograft models.ResultsIn vitro studies with A431 cells showed that synergistic cell growth inhibition by the combination of BBR and erlotinib was associated with significantly greater inhibition of pEGFR and pAKT, and inhibition of cyclin D and Bcl-2 expression compared to that observed in response to BBR or erlotinib alone. The efficacy of the combination treatment was also investigated in nude mice. Consistent with the in vitro results, BBR plus erlotinib significantly reduced tumor growth.ConclusionOur data supported use of BBR in combination with erlotinib as a novel strategy for treatment of patients with EGFR positive tumors.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

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Fig. 1