The Power of Combination Therapy

The fight against cancer is a complex battle, and it often requires a multifaceted approach. One of the most promising strategies in recent years is combination therapy. This approach involves using multiple drugs simultaneously to target different aspects of tumor growth and survival. The advantage of combination therapy lies in its potential to overcome drug resistance, enhance therapeutic efficacy, and reduce side effects.

Case study

In our latest research, we’ve explored the combined use of EGFR and MET inhibitors. These kinase inhibitors work by blocking the activity of their respective proteins, thereby halting tumor growth. However, cancer cells can become resistant to these drugs when used individually. By using them in combination, we aim to overcome this resistance and enhance anti-tumor effects. EGFR inhibitors bring great benefits to lung cancer patients. However, one of the resistant mechanisms for EGFR inhibitors is met signaling over-activation. We constructed a met signaling over activation cell model by overexpression of HGF in the NCI-H1975 cell line. Both in vitro and in vivo studies show neither EGFR inhibitor AZD9291 nor MET inhibitor AZD6094 can inhibit tumor growth. Interestingly, combined treatment with AZD9291 and AZD6094 indicates their synergy effect on tumor growth.