SENSITIZATION OF HER2/neu OVER-EXPRESSING CANCER CELLS TO CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC DRUGS

摘要

The present invention relates to methods for the inhibition of the gene product of the neu oncogene, p185neu tyrosine kinase. Over-expression of the neu oncogene leads to chemoresistance. The methods disclosed involve the novel use of emodin in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs to treat carcinoma. Furthermore, emodin surprisingly potentiates the antineoplastic effects of the chemotherapeutic agents. The inventors propose that emodin sensitizes cancer cells such that they become amenable to treatment by chemotherapeutic drugs.