Effect of combined irradiation and EGFR/Erb-B inhibition with BIBW 2992 on proliferation and tumour cure in cell lines and xenografts.

Background And Purpose: In previous experiments an enhanced anti-proliterative effect of the EGFR/ErbB tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) BIBW 2992 with single dose irradiation was observed in FaDu tumour xenografts. Aim of the present experiment was to determine if this effect can also be seen in combination with a fractionated radiotherapy. Secondly we investigate the efficacy of BIBW 2992 on local tumour control for UT-SCC-15.

Simultaneous PLK1 inhibition improves local tumour control after fractionated irradiation.

Purpose: Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) plays an important role in mitotic progression, is frequently overexpressed and associated with a poor prognosis of cancer patients, thus providing a promising target in anticancer treatment. Aim of the current project was to evaluate the effect of the novel PLK1 inhibitor BI 6727 in combination with irradiation.

Material And Methods: In vitro proliferation and radiation cell survival assays as well as in vivo local tumour control assays after single treatment and combined radiation and drug application were carried out using the squamous cell carcinoma models A431 and FaDu.

Impact of the adaptor protein GIPC1/Synectin on radioresistance and survival after irradiation of prostate cancer.

Purpose: Studies have shown that GIPC1/Synectin is an essential adaptor protein of receptors that play an important role in cancer progression and therapy resistance. This is the first study to explore the role of GIPC1/Synectin in radioresistance of prostate cancer and as a possible predictive marker for outcome of primary radiation therapy.

Materials And Methods: The effect of RNA interference-mediated GIPC1/Synectin depletion on clonogenic cell survival after irradiation with 0, 2, 4, or 6 Gy was assayed in two different GIPC1/Synectin-expressing human prostate cancer cell lines.

Impact of increased cell loss on the repopulation rate during fractionated irradiation in human FaDu squamous cell carcinoma growing in nude mice.

Purpose: To determine the impact of increased necrotic cell loss on the repopulation rate of clonogenic cells during fractionated irradiation in human FaDu squamous cell carcinoma in nude mice.

Materials And Methods: FaDu tumours were transplanted into pre-irradiated subcutaneous tissues. This manoeuvre has previously been shown to result in a clear-cut tumour bed effect, i.