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Simultaneously targeting epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase and cyclooxygenase-2, an efficient approach to inhibition of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Chen Z, Zhang X, Li M, Wang Z, Wieand HS, Grandis JR, Shin DM. Clin Cancer Res. 2004 Sep 1;10(17):5930-9. PMID: 15355926

Factors associated with clinical benefit from epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors in recurrent and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Cohen EE, Halpern AB, Kasza K, Kocherginsky M, Williams R, Vokes EE. Oral Oncol. 2009 Oct;45(10):e155-60. Epub 2009 Jul 7. PMID: 19586795

Berberine inhibits growth, induces G1 arrest and apoptosis in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells by regulating Cdki-Cdk-cyclin cascade, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential and cleavage of caspase 3 and PARP. Mantena SK, Sharma SD, Katiyar SK. Carcinogenesis. 2006 Oct;27(10):2018-27. Epub 2006 Apr 18. PMID: 16621886 doi:10.1093/carcin/bgl043 In the present investigation, we show that berberine, which is present abundantly in Berberis plant species, significantly inhibits the viability, proliferation and induces cell death in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells (Figure 1), but this effect was not found in normal human epidermal keratinocytes under the identical conditions, except for a non-significant reduction in cell viability at higher concentrations of berberine (50 and 75 µM) and treatment of cells for a longer period of time (72 h). These data suggested that berberine may be examined as an effective chemotherapeutic agent against non-melanoma skin cancers. In conclusion, our study indicates that berberine inhibits growth, induces G1 arrest and apoptotic cell death of human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. We also provide mechanistic evidences that berberine-induced apoptosis in human epidermoid carcinoma cells is mediated through disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of caspase 3 pathway, although other pathways may have a role and that require further investigation. Moreover, further in vivo studies are required to determine whether berberine could be an effective chemotherapeutic agent for the prevention of non-melanoma skin cancers.

Specenier P, Vermorken JB. The role of taxanes and targeted therapies in locally advanced head and neck cancer. Curr Opin Oncol. 2007 May;19(3):195-201. PMID: 17414636 [PubMed - in process]