Dual Targeting of HER-2 and VEGFR-2 Receptors in Breast Cancer-Associated Migration and Metastasis

There are various types and subtypes of breast cancer cells. One of the most aggressive forms is TNBC, which is characterised by the absence of common hormonal receptors such as HER-2, PR, and ER on the cancer cells. These cancers are difficult to treat, and there is an unmet need for innovative strategies to develop drug combinations that effectively target and cure them. Therefore, we adopted a precision medicine approach to treat TNBC. In this study, we used a combination of two different drugs, Lapatinib and Telatinib, which specifically inhibit tyrosine kinases. We determined the IC50 values for these drugs despite the lack of HER2 receptor expression in MDA-MB-231 cells. Cells treated with these drugs, both individually and together, showed reduced invadopodia formation and decreased cell proliferation. We also observed a significant decrease in 2D angiogenesis tube formation after treatment with these inhibitors. Our data reveal an interesting mechanism of action for Lapatinib and Telatinib in TNBC cells. Collectively, these findings provide preclinical evidence supporting further investigation of HER-2/VEGFR-2 dual targeting as a therapeutic strategy.