Effects of combining erlotinib and RNA-interfered downregulation of focal adhesion kinase expression on gastric cancer. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Feng, Rui; Yang, Sheng
• Is Part Of: Journal of international medical research. Volume 44:Number 4(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 855
• Page End: 864
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: RNA interference -- FAK gene -- erlotinib -- gastric cancer; Medicine -- Periodicals; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1177/0300060516647550
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-0605

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the synergistic effects of combining erlotinib and RNA-interference downregulation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression on the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration of the human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line AGS. Methods: Cells were divided into five experimental groups: Group A, nontransfected control; Group B, transfected with empty vector; Group C, transfected with FAK-shRNA; Group D, erlotinib treatment; Group E, combination erlotinib treatment and transfected with FAK-shRNA. FAK protein levels were confirmed via Western blotting. Cell proliferation (CCK-8 assay, apoptosis (flow cytometry), cell invasion (transwell assay) and migration (scratch assay) were evaluated. Results: RNA interference significantly decreased FAK protein levels. Cell proliferation, invasion and migration were significantly lower in Groups C, D and E compared with Group A, and significantly lower in Group E than in Groups C and D. Conclusions: RNA interference effectively silences FAK expression and inhibits malignant cell proliferation and invasion in gastric cancer cells. The effect of FAK inhibition is increased by co-treatment with erlotinib.