Radiosensitisation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Vandetanib.

UNLABELLED

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in incidence worldwide and requires new approaches to therapy. The combination of anti-angiogenic drug therapy and radiotherapy is one promising new approach. The anti-angiogenic drug vandetanib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and RET proto-oncogene with radio-enhancement potential. To explore the benefit of combined vandetanib and radiotherapy treatment for HCC, we studied outcomes following combined treatment in pre-clinical models.

METHODS

Vandetanib and radiation treatment were combined in HCC cell lines grown and . In addition to 2D migration and clonogenic assays, the combination was studied in 3D spheroids and a syngeneic mouse model of HCC.

RESULTS

Vandetanib IC 50 s were measured in 20 cell lines and the drug was found to significantly enhance radiation cell kill and to inhibit both cell migration and invasion . , combination therapy significantly reduced cancer growth and improved overall survival, an effect that persisted for the duration of vandetanib treatment.

CONCLUSION

In 2D and 3D studies and in a syngeneic model , the combination of vandetanib plus radiotherapy was more efficacious than either treatment alone. This new combination therapy for HCC merits evaluation in clinical trials.