Role of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression Level in Cetuximab Cytotoxicity and Antibody-dependent Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity Effect Against A549 Lung Cancer Cell Line

Objective To investigate the role of epidermal growth factor receptor( EGFR) expression level in cetuximab cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity( ADCC) effect against A549 lung cancer cell line. Methods A549 cell line and NKTm cells were used as the target cell and the effector cell,respectively. pEGFR-EGFP plasmids were transfected into A549 cells by nucleofector method. EGFR expression levels were measured by immunohistochemistry. The ADCC activity induced by cetuximab was assessed by cell counting kit-8 assay. Results A549 cells transfected with pEGFR-EGFP plasmids expressed higher level of EGFR protein on membrane and were more sensitive to ADCC activity mediated by cetuximab( P 0. 05). The inhibition rate of A549 cells showed no significant difference between transfection group and wild-type group when treated with cetuximab alone( P 0. 05). Conclusion EGFR expression level influences the sensitivity of A549 lung cancer cell line to ADCC activity mediated by cetuximab but not to cetuximab alone.