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Concurrent use of vinorelbine and gefitinib induces supra-additive effect in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

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Abstract

Purpose

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) remains a clinical challenge because of the high rate of locoregional disease recurrence. Standard treatment includes surgery, radiation, chemoradiation or a combination of these approaches. New therapies are needed to achieve improved survival, quality of life and organ function in these patients. A novel molecular targeted therapy incorporated into our current treatment strategies may have a significant role in the treatment of HNSCC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of HNSCC cell lines to vinorelbine combined with gefitinib in vitro.

Methods

Six recently established cell lines were used: UT-SCC-9, -11, -19A, -29 and -34 (laryngeal SCC) and UT-SCC-33 (oral cavity SCC). Chemosensitivity was tested using the 96-well plate clonogenic assay. The vinorelbine concentrations used varied between 0.4 and 1.0 nM and the gefitinib concentrations varied between 0.05 and 1.6 μM. Survival data were fitted to the LQ model, and the area under the curve (AUC) value was obtained with numerical integration. The type of interaction was determined by comparing the AUC ratio of the two drugs to the survival fraction (SF) of gefitinib alone.

Results

In the current study the combination of vinorelbine and gefitinib had a clear supra-additive or additive cytotoxic effect on the HNSCC cell lines.

Conclusions

This finding is encouraging as a proof of the possible benefit of combing an EGFR targeting compound with a cell cycle specific drug and warrants further studies of available combinations in vitro.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Turku University Central Hospital, 20520, Turku, Finland

    Kaisa Erjala, Misa Raitanen & Reidar Grénman

  2. Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Jarmo Kulmala

  3. Department of Medical Biochemistry, The University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland

    Reidar Grénman

Authors
  1. Kaisa Erjala
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  2. Misa Raitanen
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  3. Jarmo Kulmala
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  4. Reidar Grénman
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Correspondence to Reidar Grénman.

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Erjala, K., Raitanen, M., Kulmala, J. et al. Concurrent use of vinorelbine and gefitinib induces supra-additive effect in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 133, 169–176 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-006-0154-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-006-0154-0

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