The effect of EGFR-related tyrosine kinase activity inhibition on the growth and invasion mechanisms of prostate carcinoma cell lines.

Increased urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) levels and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-related tyrosine kinase activity are associated with poor prognosis in several cancers. We studied the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and a specific inhibitor of EGFR, ZM252868, on the growth and invasiveness of the prostate cancer cell lines PC3 and DU145. PC3 cell growth was stimulated by exogenous EGF but DU145 cell growth was not. EGFR-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor significantly inhibited the growth of both cell types. EGF increased uPA protein level and uPA activity in both cell types. EGF stimulation also resulted in increased uPAR transcript in both cell lines. uPA production and activity were suppressed by the inhibitor to well below the levels in control cells. Matrigel invasion of PC3 cells was increased by EGF. ZM252868 also reversed the EGF-stimulated matrigel invasion by PC3 cells. Our results indicate that EGF is a potent stimulative agent for both growth and invasion in prostate cancer cells, and that targeting the EGFR function inhibits not only tumor growth but also invasiveness.