Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the sixth most common human neoplasm worldwide. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is highly expressed in human OSCC and is a target for cancer therapy and prevention. This study investigated the therapeutic and preventive effects of an inhibitor of EGFR (PD153035) on OSCC. METHODS: The effects of PD153035 were examined in human cancer cell lines in vitro, in an athymic nude mouse xenograft model in vivo, and in the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster cheek pouch tumour model in vivo. RESULTS: PD153035 significantly inhibited cell growth, delayed cell cycle progression and induced apoptosis in human OSCC cells in vitro. In vivo, PD153035 inhibited xenograft tumour growth in nude mice in a dose-dependent manner and prevented the development of OSCC at the postinitiation stage in the DMBA-induced hamster cheek pouch tumour model. PD153035 inhibited the DMBA-induced increases in cell proliferation and in levels of phosphorylated EGFR and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) protein in the hamster cheek pouch. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibitors of EGFR, such as PD153035, have potential value in the treatment and prevention of OSCC.