Targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 enhances radiosensitivity and reduces the metastatic potential of Lewis lung carcinoma cells

Background Sublethal radiation induces matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9)-mediated radioresistance in Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells and their metastatic dissemination. We aim to determine if EGFR/HER2 activation associates with MMP-9-mediated radioresistance and invasiveness in irradiated LLC cells. Methods LLC cells were treated with erlotinib or afatinib followed by sublethal radiation. After irradiation, we examined the phosphorylation of...