Blocking epidermal growth factor receptor signal pathway to inhibit cell growth of nasopharynx cancer

Objective To study the effect of Erlotinib, an EGFR-selectivetyrosine kinase inhibitor, on cell proliferance of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) by blocking epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signal pathway. Methods NPC cell line, CNE-2, was used to be incubated by Erlotinib at different concentrations. Cell growth, cell cycle progression, apoptosis of CNE-2 and target protein expression were detected by cell growth assay, flow cytometric analysis assay and Western blotting assay, respectively. Results (1)Erlotinib could inhibit the growth of CNE-2 in does-dependent manner. (2) The levels of G1 arrest and apoptosis of CNE-2 in Erlotinib group were obvious higher than those in control group(P 0.05). (3)The p-EGFR level was reduced in Erlotinib group compared with the control group. Conclusion Erlotinib can inhibit cell growth of CNE-2 by blocking EGFR signal pathway and increasing G1 arrest.