Mechanisms underlying acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung cancer

Aims: The response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung cancer patients is variable and some responding patients eventually acquire resistance to the drugs later on. The mechanism to this phenomenon has been related to mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor. Our study aims at establishing other factors apart from T790M mutation which lead to acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors Erlotinib and Gefitinib, through the analysis of apoptosis regulators. We hereby report the expression variation of the Bcl2 family after exposure to drugs. Methods: Secondary lung tumor cell lines (H1299, A549 an…