The effect of Erlotinib (EGFR inhibitor), 5-Fluorouracil and Cisplatin loaded Nanoliposomes on apoptosis and proliferation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer world wide and is associated with high mortality rate. Cisplatin , 5- fluorouracil and EGFR inhibitors (e.g. Erlotinib) have been proved to be efficient therapy for HNSCC. Intravenous adminstration of the chemotherapeutic agents affects not only cancerous cells but also the normal tissues and organs, and increase the possibility of toxicity and mutation in these tissues. As a novel therapeutic strategy, the use of nanoliposoms as a drug delivery system provide an opportunity to deliver a large amount of drugs directly to the target cancerous cells. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Erloltinib (epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor), 5- flouorouracial and cisplatia loaded nanoliposomes on apoptosis and proliferation of HNSCC. Materials and Methods: In this study, several tests were carried out to evaluate the effect of nanoliposomes on apoptosis and proliferation of SCC cell line (HN5). The study group was HN5 cells treated by erlotinib, 5- Flourouracil and Cisplatin loaded in nanoliposomes. The control groups were untreated HN5 cells (negative control) and HN5 cells treated by the free from of erlolinib, 5- flourouracid and cisplatin (positive contorl). Free or nanoliposomated forms of drugs were added to positive control and the study group, respectively. After 24 hours of transferring and inserting cells to 6-wells and 96- wells, laboratory tests were porfomed on the cells after 48 hours. MTT test for evaluation of cell proliferation, flocytometry test to determine the rate of apoptosis and DAPI test to measure the morohological changes, were used. Results: Cell proliferation assessed by MTT test in both study and positive control groups were lower than negative control groups (p=0.002). Cell proliferation was lower in treated group by nanoliposomated agents than the negative control group, (p=0.0004). Positive control group in comparision with negative control group had significantly lower cell proliferation rate. There was no significant differences between positive control and study groups (p=015). In flowcytometry results, NH5 cell lines treated by nanoliposomes had the highest apoptosis rate. The findings of DAPI test confirmed the results of flow cytometry. Concludion: 5- Fluorouracil, cisptatin and erlotinib laoded nanoliposomes efficiently redued cell apoptosis and proliferation rates in HNSCC.