Berberine: a promising strategy to combat cetuximab-resistance in colorectal cancer.

ABSTRACT: Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is approved as a front-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancers, but limited efficacy is obtained. Combinatory therapy is a potentially promising strategy to enhance anticancer effects, overcome drug resistance and improve overall clinical survival. Here, we show that berberine combined with cetuximab created a synergistic inhibitory effect on cetuximab-resistant CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. Human phospho-kinase assay explored that the phosphorylation of Src and Chk-2 was inhibited by berberine and decreased greatly when combined with cetuximab. Adding KX2-391 (Src inhibitor) rather than BML-277 (Chk-2 inhibitor) with cetuximab resulted in more cell death and apoptosis. Conversely, activation of Sr

SUBMITTER: Ye J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12502288 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature