Figure 4.

Lapatinib inhibition of metastatic colonization of mouse brain by ErbB2-positive human breast cancer cells in a mouse model of brain metastases. Human breast cancer cells expressing ErbB1/ErbB2 (231-BR-HER2) or ErbB1 (231-BR-vector) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were administered by intracardiac injection into the left ventricle of BALB/c nude mice. Five days after injection mice were administered lapatinib (30 or 100 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle twice-daily for 24 days by oral gavage. Brains were dissected at necropsy and imaged to detect EGFP expression in metastases derived from the injected 231-BR cells. Representative dorsal whole brain images from two mice in each treatment group are shown. Image reprinted from the publication entitled “Effect of lapatinib on the outgrowth of metastatic breast cancer cells to the brain” by Gril et al. (54) with permission from Oxford University Press. ErbB1, human epidermal growth factor receptor 1; ErbB2, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2.