Study On The Growth Inhibition Effect Of Cetuximab Combined With Paclitaxel On Human Breast Cancer Cell Line MCF-7

Objective: To observe the growth inhibition effect of Cetuximab combined with Paclitaxel on Human Breast Cancer Cell Line MCF-7.Methods:The experiment involved four groups:the control group, Cetuximab group,PTX group and the combination group. The inhibitory rates of Cetuximab,PTX and different combinations of Cetuximab and PTX on MCF-7cells were examined by MTT assay and the apoptosis rate and cell cycle distribution were analyzed by flow cytometry. The immunofluorescence and RT-PCR were used to evaluate the EGFR protein and mRNA expression in the control group and PTX group.Results: PTX can exert inhibitory effect on MCF-7cells in a dose-dependent manner based on the results from MTT assay. MTT assay showed that different combination schemes exerted different inhibitory effects; the synergistic effect was seen in the scheme of MCF-7cells first treated with PTX and then Cetuximab. The apoptosis rate of the other three groups was increased compared with that of the control group and the effect was more evident in the combination groups than in the single agent groups (P<0.05). The EGFR proteins and mRNA expressions were reduced in PTX group compared with those in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion:Human breast cancer cell line MCF-7was sensitive to PTX and PTX can exert inhibitory effect on MCF-7cells in a dose-dependent manner. The combination of Cetuximab and PTX can increase the apoptosis and decrease the proliferation of breast cancer cell line MCF-7with a synergistic action.