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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Author Spotlight: Optimizing Antibody-Based Cancer Treatments via Antibody-Dependent, Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity Assay
Published on: September 13, 2024
Relationship Between EGFR Expression in Oral Cancer Cell Lines and Cetuximab Antibody-dependent Cell-mediated
Hiroshi Nakamura1, Shigehiro Tamaki2, Takahiro Yagyuu2
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan nakahiro@naramed-u.ac.jp.
Background/Aim:
Cetuximab treatment targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpressed in oral cancer. This study aimed to investigate the anti-tumour activity of cetuximab against oral cancer cell lines with respect to antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), and determine the correlation between ADCC and EGFR expression.
Materials And Methods:
EGFR expression in oral cancer cells was measured by quantitative flow cytometric analysis and immunohistochemistry. ADCC activity was measured by 4-h calcein release assays.
Results:
Cetuximab-mediated ADCC against oral cancer cells was detectable at a concentration of 0.1 μg/ml. A high correlation was observed between the number of EGFR molecules on the surface of oral cancer cells and ADCC (correlation coefficient: 0.847; p=0.032).
Conclusion:
ADCC is an important mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of cetuximab, and EGFR expression in tumour cells might serve as a predictive marker to evaluate the effect of cetuximab treatment.
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