
H. Nakamura et al / Indo J Pharm 1 (2019) 11-18
difficult to establish a therapeutic target for
cetuximab-resistant tumors.
In this study, because proteomic assay was
performed using whole cells, we could not evaluate
proteins with low expression such as EGFR
pathway-related proteins, which is the underlying
pathway in the mechanism of action of cetuximab.
To evaluate the factors affecting acquisition of
resistance to cetuximab, more detailed study
focusing on proteins with low expression is needed.
5. Conclusion
In conclusion, we have revealed for the first time
a change in dCK, ZBTB41, and DUS3 expression
levels, largely with acquisition of resistance to
cetuximab. Our data suggest that nucleoside
analogs such as cytarabine and gemcitabine may be
useful for treating CRC with acquired resistance to
cetuximab. In future, it would be necessary
elucidate the usefulness of these drugs for the
treatment of cetuximab-resistant CRC and to assess
the possibility of restoration of cetuximab
sensitivity by regulation of ZBTB41 and DUS3
expression.
Acknowledgements
We thank Dr. Touko Hirano (Laboratory for
Analytical Instruments, Education and Research
Support Center, Gunma University Graduate
School of Medicine) and Dr. Mitsue Miyazaki
(Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and
Signal Research, Gunma University Initiative for
Advanced Research) for excellent technical
assistance. This work was supported by JSPS
KAKENHI Grant Number JP16H00504 and
JP18K06743.
References
[1] Karapetis CS, Khambata-Ford S, Jonker DJ,
O'Callaghan CJ, Tu D, Tebbutt NC, et al. K-ras
Mutations and Benefit from Cetuximab in
Advanced Colorectal Cancer. N Engl J Med.
2008;359(17):1757-65.
[2] Therkildsen C, Bergmann TK, Henrichsen-
Schnack T, Ladelund S, Nilbert M. The
predictive value of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF,
PIK3CA and PTEN for anti-EGFR treatment in
metastatic colorectal cancer: A systematic
review and meta-analysis. Acta Oncol.
2014;53(7):852-64.
[3] Xu JM, Wang Y, Wang YL, Wang Y, Liu T, Ni
M, et al. PIK3CA Mutations Contribute to
Acquired Cetuximab Resistance in Patients with
Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Clin Cancer Res.
2017;23(16):4602-4616.
[4] Troiani T, Napolitano S, Vitagliano D, Morgillo
F, Capasso A, Sforza V, et al. Primary and
Acquired Resistance of Colorectal Cancer Cells
to Anti-EGFR Antibodies Converge on
MEK/ERK Pathway Activation and Can Be
Overcome by Combined MEK/EGFR
Inhibition. Clin Cancer res. 2014;20(14):3775-
86.
[5] Zhang S, Zhang Y, Qu J, Che X, Fan Y, Hou K,
et al. Exosomes promote cetuximab resistance
via the PTEN/Akt pathway in colon cancer cells.
Braz J Med Biol Res. 2018;51(1):e6472.
[6] Zhang B, Wang J, Wang X, Zhu J, Liu Q, Shi Z,
et al. Proteogenomic characterization of human
colon and rectal cancer. Nature.
2014;513(7518):382-7.
[7] Chung CH, Seeley EH, Roder H, Grigorieva J,
Tsypin M, Roder J, et al. Detection of tumor
epidermal growth factor receptor pathway
dependence by serum mass spectrometry in
cancer patients. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers
Prev. 2010;19(2):358-65.
[8] Pitteri SJ, Amon LM, BusaldBuson T, Zhang Y,
Johnson MM, Chin A, et al. Detection of
elevated plasma levels of epidermal growth
factor receptor before breast cancer diagnosis
among hormone therapy users. Cancer Res.
2010;70(21):8598-606.
[9] Garrisi VM, Bongarzone I, Mangia A, Cremona
M, De Bortoli M, Vaghi E, et al.
Characterization of a serum protein pattern from
NSCLC patients treated with Gefitinib.
ClinBiochem. 2011;44(10-11):936-40.
[10] Lazzari C, Spreafico A, Bachi A, Roder H,
Floriani I, Garavaglia D, et al. Changes in
plasma mass-spectral profile in course of
treatment of non-small cell lung cancer patients
with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine
kinase inhibitors. J Thorac Oncol. 2012;7(1):40-
8.