Volume 39, Issue 1 pp. 151-159
Original Article

Combination of phosphotidylinositol-3-kinase targeting with cetuximab and irradiation: A preclinical study on an orthotopic xenograft model of head and neck cancer

Alexandre Bozec MD, PhD

Corresponding Author

Alexandre Bozec MD, PhD

University Institute of the Face and Neck, Nice cedex, France

Corresponding author: A. Bozec, University Institute of the Face and Neck, 31 avenue de Valombrose, 06103 Nice, France. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
Nathalie Ebran PhD

Nathalie Ebran PhD

Department of Oncopharmacology, Antoine Lacassagne Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Nice cedex, France

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Nina Radosevic–Robin MD

Nina Radosevic–Robin MD

Department of Pathology, Jean Perrin Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Clermont–Ferrand, France

ERTICa Research Group, University of Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, France

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Emmanuel Chamorey PharmD

Emmanuel Chamorey PharmD

Department of Clinical Research, Innovation and Statistics (DRIS), Antoine Lacassagne Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Nice cedex, France

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Hedi Ben Yahia MSc

Hedi Ben Yahia MSc

Department of Oncopharmacology, Antoine Lacassagne Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Nice cedex, France

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Serge Marcie PhD

Serge Marcie PhD

Department of Physics, Antoine Lacassagne Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Nice cedex, France

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Mathieu Gautier PhD

Mathieu Gautier PhD

Department of Physics, Antoine Lacassagne Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Nice cedex, France

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Frédérique Penault–Llorca MD, PhD

Frédérique Penault–Llorca MD, PhD

Department of Pathology, Jean Perrin Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Clermont–Ferrand, France

ERTICa Research Group, University of Auvergne, Clermont–Ferrand, France

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Gérard Milano PhD

Gérard Milano PhD

Department of Oncopharmacology, Antoine Lacassagne Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Nice cedex, France

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First published: 10 August 2016
Citations: 20

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combining the phosphotidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor buparlisib (BKM)120 with the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) agent cetuximab and radiotherapy (RT) on an orthotopic model of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods

We evaluated the antitumor efficacy of BKM120, cetuximab, and RT, administered alone or in combination, using the human PIK3CA-mutated HNSCC cell line, CAL33, injected into the floor of the mouth of nude mice.

Results

Compared with control, the BKM120-cetuximab and the BKM120-cetuximab-RT combinations led to the highest tumor inhibition (p < .001). The highest inhibitory effect of treatments on cell proliferation, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and PI3K/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways were found with the BKM120-cetuximab association. The association of BKM120 and cetuximab with RT inhibited RT-induced activation of the MAPK pathway.

Conclusion

These results can serve as a preclinical rationale for innovative treatments combining PI3K inhibition with anti-EGFR therapies and irradiation in patients with HNSCC. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 151–159, 2017

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