Ma H, Jin S, Yang W, Zhou G, Zhao M, Fang S, Zhang Z, Hu J. Interferon-alpha enhances the antitumour activity of EGFR-targeted therapies by upregulating RIG-I in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Br J Cancer 2018;
118:509-521. [PMID:
29348488 PMCID:
PMC5830595 DOI:
10.1038/bjc.2017.442]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background:
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapies have been tested in the clinic as treatments for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Owing to intrinsic or acquired resistance, EGFR-targeted therapies often lead to a low response rate and treatment failure. Interferon-alpha (IFNα) is a chemosensitising agent and multi-functional cytokine with a tumour inhibitory effect. However, the synergic effect of IFNα and EGFR-targeted therapies (erlotinib and nimotuzumab) and their mechanisms in HNSCC remain unclear.
Methods:
The interactions between IFNα, erlotinib, and nimotuzumab were evaluated in vitro in HNSCC cells. The synergistic effect of IFNα (20 000 IU per day, s.c.), erlotinib (50 mg kg−1 per day, i.g.) and nimotuzumab (10 mg kg−1 per day, i.p.) was further confirmed in vivo using HNSCC xenografts in nude mice. The upregulation of retinoic-acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) induced by IFNα and EGFR-targeted therapies and its mechanism were detected in vitro and in vivo.
Results:
IFNα enhances the antitumour effects of erlotinib and nimotuzumab on HNSCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, both IFNα and EGFR-targeted therapies promote the expression of RIG-I by activating signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1) in HNSCC cells. RIG-I knockdown reduced the sensitivity of HN4 and HN30 cells to IFNα, erlotinib, and nimotuzumab. Moreover, IFNα transcriptionally induced RIG-I expression in HNSCC cells through STAT1.
Conclusions:
IFNα enhances the effect of EGFR-targeted therapies by upregulating RIG-I, and its expression may represent a predictor of the effectiveness of a combination treatment including IFNα in HNSCC.
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