The relation between EGFR, IGF-1R and heavy ions in head and neck carcinoma

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25462695
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: Matsumoto Fumihiko 順天堂大学, 医学部, 非常勤講師 (70445584)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KARASAWA Kumiko 独立行政法人放射線医学総合研究所, 重粒子医科学センター, 研究員 (60214574)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 頭頸部扁平上皮癌 / 放射線治療 / 炭素線 / EGFR / cetuximab

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of carbon ion radiotherapy and radiosensitization of cetuximab for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Clonogenic survival assay was done to evaluate enhancement effect of cetuximab to γ-ray and carbon ion. In HN5, cetuximab enhanced radiosensitivity to γ-ray and carbon ion. We performed western blotting to evaluate expression levels of phosphorylation-EGFR (p-EGFR) and EGFR after carbon ion radiotherapy with cetuximab in HN5. Neither cetuximab nor carbon ion showed any change on EGFR at short period from treatment. However, on p-EGFR, radiotherapy increase expression level and cetuximab suppressed this increase. Formation of nuclear γ-H2AX foci was monitored by immunofluorescence. Cetuximab differentially affected the survival and the radiosensitivity of HNSCC cells. Cetuximab suppressed DNA repair that was evident by the prolonged presence of nuclear γ-H2AX foci.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科学