Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody cetuximab has been used widely in non-small cell lung cancer patients. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of lung cancer cells (A549, H460, H1299, SPC-A-1) which were treated by cetuximab in vitro. METHODS: We studied the effects of increasing concentrations of cetuximab (1 nmol/L-625 nmol/L) in four human lung cancer cell lines (A549, SPC-A-1, H460, H1229). CCK8 measured the inhibition of cell proliferation in each group. A549, SPC-A-1 were marked by PI and the statuses of apoptosis were observed. Western blot were used to detect the proliferation-related signaling protein and apoptosis-related protein in A549. RESULTS: The treatment with cetuximab resulted in the effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis in a time- and dosedependent manner. The expression of activated key enzymes (p-AKT, p-EGFR, p-MAPK) in EGFR signaling transduction pathway were down-regulated more obviously. CONCLUSIONS: Cetuximab is an effective targeted drug in the treatment of lung cancer cell lines, tissues, most likely to contribute to the inhibition of key enzymes in EGFR signaling transduction pathway.