Publication Title
Nature neuroscience
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2017
Keywords
Antineoplastic Agents; Brain Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; ErbB Receptors; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; Glioblastoma; Humans; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Signal Transduction
Abstract
Aberrant epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling is widespread in cancer, making the EGFR an important target for therapy. EGFR gene amplification and mutation are common in glioblastoma (GBM), but EGFR inhibition has not been effective in treating this tumor. Here we propose that primary resistance to EGFR inhibition in glioma cells results from a rapid compensatory response to EGFR inhibition that mediates cell survival. We show that in glioma cells expressing either EGFR wild type or the mutant EGFRvIII, EGFR inhibition triggers a rapid adaptive response driven by increased tumor necrosis factor (TNF) secretion, which leads to activation in turn of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), the Axl receptor tyrosine kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK). Inhibition of this adaptive axis at multiple nodes rendered glioma cells with primary resistance sensitive to EGFR inhibition. Our findings provide a possible explanation for the failures of anti-EGFR therapy in GBM and suggest a new approach to the treatment of EGFR-expressing GBM using a combination of EGFR and TNF inhibition.
Clinical Institute
Cancer
Clinical Institute
Neurosciences (Brain & Spine)
Specialty
Oncology
Specialty
Neurosciences