This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Younes, M. N. Articles by Myers, J. N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Younes, M. N. Articles by Myers, J. N.

Dual Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition with NVP-AEE788 for the Treatment of Aggressive Follicular Thyroid Cancer

Authors' Affiliations: Departments of ¹ Head and Neck Surgery, ² Pathology, and ³ Cancer Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

Requests for reprints: Jeffrey N. Myers, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Unit 441, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030-4009. Phone: 713-792-6920; Fax: 713-794-4662; E-mail: jmyers{at}mdanderson.org.

Purpose: Patients with radioiodine-resistant follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) have a poor prognosis, if metastasized, with currently available treatment modalities. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and their receptors (EGFR and VEGFR) have been reported to be overexpressed in FTC and have been implicated in FTC development. We hypothesized that inhibiting the phosphorylation of EGFR and VEGFR by treatment with NVP-AEE788 (AEE788), a novel dual specific EGFR and VEGFR inhibitor, either alone or in combination with paclitaxel, would inhibit the growth of FTC xenografts in an orthotopic nude mouse model.

Experimental Design: To confirm previous reports, EGF and EGFR expression and vascularity were analyzed in human samples of FTC, Hürthle cell carcinoma, and normal thyroid tissues. EGFR expression in four FTC cell lines was measured using Western blotting. The antitumor effect of AEE788 on FTC cells in vitro was evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays and Western blotting. The effect of AEE788, alone and in combination with paclitaxel, on FTC tumor growth in an orthotopic nude mouse model was also investigated. Immunohistochemical analysis of EGFR and VEGFR signaling status, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and microvessel density was done.

Results: EGF, EGFR, and vascularity were increased in human thyroid tumor samples and EGFR was increased in FTC cells. AEE788 inhibited FTC cell growth in vitro and reduced the phosphorylation status of EGFR, VEGFR, and two downstream targets, AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase, in FTC cells. AEE788 alone and, to a greater extent, AEE788 plus paclitaxel suppressed FTC tumor growth in the thyroids of nude mice.

Conclusion: Dual inhibition of EGFR and VEGFR by AEE788 could represent a novel approach to the treatment of radioiodine-resistant FTC.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Klubo-Gwiezdzinska, R. Junik, E. Kopczynska, O. Juraniec, and H. Kardymowicz The comparison of serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels between patients with metastatic and non-metastatic thyroid cancer, and patients with nontoxic multinodular goiter Eur. J. Endocrinol., October 1, 2007; 157(4): 521 - 527. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. S. Kim, J. A. Franklyn, K. Boelaert, M. C. Eggo, J. C. Watkinson, and C. J. McCabe Pituitary Tumor Transforming Gene (PTTG) Stimulates Thyroid Cell Proliferation via a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/Kinase Insert Domain Receptor/Inhibitor of DNA Binding-3 Autocrine Pathway J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2006; 91(11): 4603 - 4611. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]