Correlation Between Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition and Sensitivity to EGFR Targeted Monoclonal Antibody in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Objective To observe the relationship between epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the sensitivity of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells to EGFR targeted monoclonal antibody. Methods (1) We compared the expression level of EGFR, vimentin and E-cadherin in TNBC cells by immunoblotting. (2) We observed the sensitivity of individual cell line to cetuximab by CCK8 kit. (3) We managed to reverse the EMT of MDA-MB231 with a type I histone deacetylase inhibitor Entinostat (ENT). (4) We observed the suppression effect of the combination of ENT and cetuximab on the viability of MDA-MB231 cells. Results (1) The expression level of E-cadherin was significantly higher and the expression level of vimentin was significantly lower in MDA-MB468 cells than in MDA-MB436 and MDA-MB231 cells. (2) MDA-MB468 cells were more sensitive to cetuximab than MDA-MB231 and MDA-MB436 cells. (3) ENT could reverse the EMT of MDA-MB231 cells. (4) The viability of MDA-MB231 cells was suppressed significantly by ENT treatment while the effect of the combination of ENT and cetuximab was more profound. Conclusion EMT might predict the sensitivity of TNBC cells to cetuximab. The combination of ENT and cetuximab might be the new approach in treating TNBC.