Effects of gefitinib treatment on cellular uptake of extracellular vesicles in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer cells

In this study, we demonstrated the effects of gefitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of EGFR, on the cellular uptake of EVs. In EGFR-mutant HCC827 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, which are sensitive to gefitinib, macropinocytosis was suppressed by gefitinib treatment. However, the cellular uptake of EVs was increased by gefitinib treatment, whereas that of liposomes was reduced. In accordance with the results of the cellular uptake studies, the anti-cancer activity of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded EVs in HCC827 cells was significantly increased in the presence of gefitinib, whereas the activity of DOX-loaded liposomes was reduced. The digestion of EV proteins by trypsin did not affect uptake, suggesting that the cellular uptake of EVs might not be mediated by EV proteins. These results suggest that gefitinib can enhance cell-to-cell communication via EVs within the tumor microenvironment. In addition, EVs show potential as drug delivery vehicles in combination with gefitinib for the treatment of patients harboring EGFR-mutant NSCLC tumors.Graphical abstract
Source: International Journal of Pharmaceutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research