Combination of lapatinib with isothiocyanates overcomes drug resistance and inhibits migration of HER2 positive breast cancer cells

摘要

BackgroundLapatinib is a commonly used drug that interrupts signaling from the epidermal growth factor receptors, EGFR and HER2eu. Long-term exposure to lapatinib during therapy eliminates cells that are sensitive to the drug; however, at the same time it increases probability of lapatinib-resistant cell selection. The aim of this study was to verify whether combinations of lapatinib with one of isothiocyanates (sulforaphane, erucin or sulforaphene), targeting different levels of HER2 signaling pathway, exert stronger cytotoxic effect than therapy targeting the receptor only, using heterogeneous populations consisting of lapatinib-sensitive and lapatinib-resistant breast cancer cells.