BT474 is a breast cancer cell line which haves an over expression of receptors in

the family HER/ErbB that in most cases lead to bad prognosis of the patient. These
receptors activate de Mitogen - Activated Protein Kinases (MAPK), one of these is
Erk5 which is related to proliferation, apoptosis and tumor generation. TG02 is a
drug generated to inhibit Erk5 and other MAPKs while Trastuzumab is a monoclonal
antibody clinically used to block HER2. Proliferation assays with concentrations of
TG02 (10nM, 50 nM, 75 nM, 100 nM, and 250 nM) and the combination of the
drugs were done, the same concentrations of TG02 with Trastuzumab 10 nM with
treatment periods of 24, 48, 72, and 144 hours . The optimal concentrations of
TG02 were 50 nM and 75 nM alone and with Trastuzumab 10 nM during a 72 hours
treatment time. Western blotting was done on cells exposed to the optimal
concentrations and treatment period to see if cell proliferation decreased by
affecting Erk5. Results showed that the total amount of Erk5 and it's phosphorylated
form decreased significantly with the combinations of TG02 and Trastuzumab. Other
biochemical tests were conducted. ErbB2 receptor and it's phosphorylated form
pErbB2 was not affected by TG02. Also p27, a protein involved in cellular arrest,
was not affected by either treatment. All of these results have to be confirmed.