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Gefitinib (“Iressa”, ZD1839) inhibits SN38-triggered EGF signals and IL-8 production in gastric cancer cells

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Abstract

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its ligands are involved in tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, and resistance to chemotherapy. The findings reported here demonstrate that SN38 (the active metabolite of CPT-11) induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR within 5 min, followed by the induction of transcripts and/or proteins of the heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, amphiregulin, transforming growth factor-α, and interlukin-8 (IL-8) in AGS gastric cancer cells. SN38 also activates nuclear factor-κB and activator protein-1, both of which are critical for the transcription of the IL-8 gene. However, the blocking of EGFR activation by gefitinib (“Iressa”, ZD1839), an EGFR-TKI (tyrosine kinase inhibitor), abrogates all the above reactions. The SN38-triggered mechanisms include the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the activation of protein kinase C (PKC), followed by metalloproteinase activation and the sequential ectodomain shedding of EGFR ligands. These findings suggest that EGF signaling is enhanced by CPT-11 and point to the potential benefit of the use of a combination of CPT-11 with gefitinib in the treatment of certain gastric cancers.

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Abbreviations

AP-1:

Activator protein-1

AR:

Amphiregulin

CPT:

Camptothecin

EGF:

Epidermal growth factor

EGFR:

EGF receptor

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

EMSA:

Electrophoretic mobility shift assay

GAPDH:

Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase

HB-EGF:

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor

IL-8:

Interleukin-8

NAC:

N-Acetylcysteine

NF-κB:

Nuclear factor-kappaB

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

TGF:

Transforming growth factor

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.

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Correspondence to Osamu Kishida.

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“Iressa” is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.

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Kishida, O., Miyazaki, Y., Murayama, Y. et al. Gefitinib (“Iressa”, ZD1839) inhibits SN38-triggered EGF signals and IL-8 production in gastric cancer cells. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 55, 393–403 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-004-0904-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-004-0904-0

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