Sorafenib combined with dasatinib therapy inhibits cell viability, migration, and angiogenesis synergistically in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor used for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Sorafenib resistance may be related to Src-induced cell migration and angiogenesis, which are regulated by cancer stem cell activation and release of vascular endothelial growth factor. Dasatinib is a Src inhibitor that inhibits Src phosphorylation and suppresses Src-associated cell migration and angiogenesis.

The Roles Of Angiogenesis And Cancer Stem Cells In Sorafenib Drug Resistance In Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: An increasing number of studies support cancer stem cells as the reason for chemoresistance to sorafenib therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the mechanism is still unclear. In this study, the mechanism of sorafenib resistance in cancer stem cells was examined by in vitro experiments and xenograft mouse model.

Methods: The expression of cancer stem cell markers in the Chang liver cell line and PLC/PRF/5 and HepG2 hepatoma cell lines were compared by immunoblot assay before and after sorafenib treatment in vitro.