EGFR and VEGFR as potential target for biological therapies in HCC cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly malignant cancer with poor prognosis. Inhibitors of EGFR and VEGFR for HCC treatment are currently under investigation. Gefitinib and vandetanib inhibit migration of HCC cells on Laminin-5 and Fibronectin, and invasion through matrigel. Both drugs inhibit p-EGFR after short time, while their efficacy on p-Erk1/2 and p-Akt is progressive and stable over time. PI3K/Akt and MEK/Erk1/2 inhibitors, inhibit migration and invasion as well as inducing de-phosphorylation of downstream effectors. Finally, both inhibitors, vandetanib and gefitinib down-regulated the secretion of matrix metalloproteases MMP-2 and MMP-9. All these biological effects seem to depend on the activity of gefitinib and vandetanib blocking activity towards p-EGFR mediated pathways.