Therapeutic efficacy of time-dependent cetuximab on experimentally induced hamster buccal pouch carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the cetuximab therapeutic potential in the time-dependent fashion in experimentally induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinoma. Material and methods: Forty Syrian male hamsters were classified into four equal groups (G) of ten each. GI: The animals remained untreated to act as negative controls. The right pouches of animals in GII, GIII, and GIV were painted three times a week for 14 weeks (w)s with 7,12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA). GII: No additional treatment was administered. While, the animals in GIII and GIV were treated differently. Those in GIII received cetuximab intraperitoneally (IP) three intervals a week for three (w)s, whereas those in GIV received cetuximab IP three intervals for six (w)s. After the end of the experiment, the gross observations were made, and blood samples (2ml) were withdrawn from the inner canthus of the eye for analysis of whole white blood cells (WBCs) and oxidative stress markers [glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels]. All pouches were surgically bisected for preparation for Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain and immunohistochemistry (IHC) stain using epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Other fresh tissue was used for DNA detection through a flow cytometry (FCM) test.