Fig. 5

TNBC PDTPs are more sensitive to EGFR inhibitor Gefitinib. A Dose–response curves of varying concentrations of Gefitinib in the indicated cell lines (PDTP and PDTP-P) treated for 72 h. Dose–response curves are presented as means of three replicates. B Effects of Gefitinib on cell viability. The indicated PC, TNBC cell lines and their PDTP-P were treated with the indicated doses of the drugs for 72 h and stained with crystal violet. Representative pictures of reproducible effects from two to three independent experiments are shown. C Effects of drug combinations on HS578T-PC and PDTP-P spheroid growth with and without Gefitinib (0, 5 and 7.5 µM) treatment. Representative micrographs (10 × magnification) images of day 15 old spheroids (n = 6 spheroids) are shown. Control untreated and Gefitinib-treated spheroids with a single agent with the indicated drug levels are shown. Scale bar, 100 μm. D The spheroid size was calculated and represented in the graph with a statistical t-test to compare the groups to the untreated control