EGFR Amplification and Glioblastoma Stem-Like Cells.

Glioblastoma (GBM), the most common malignant brain tumor in adults, contains a subpopulation of cells with a stem-like phenotype (GS-cells). GS-cells can be maintained in vitro using serum-free medium supplemented with epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor-2, and heparin. However, this method does not conserve amplification of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene, which is present in over 50% of all newly diagnosed GBM cases.

Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Resensitize EGFR/EGFRvIII-Overexpressing, Erlotinib-Resistant Glioblastoma Cells to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition.

Although the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed and/or amplified in more than 50 % of all glioblastomas (GBM), therapeutic targeting of the EGFR has not yet been successful. Since histone deacetylases (HDAC) have been described as controlling EGFR expression, we combined the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib with different HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) and investigated the benefit of combinatorial therapy for glioblastoma cells. Using representative models of EGFR-amplified, erlotinib-sensitive and -resistant GBM with or without EGFRvIII expression, we determined proliferation, migration, and EGFR-dependent signaling in response to erlotinib and HDACi alone or in combination.

Erlotinib resistance in EGFR-amplified glioblastoma cells is associated with upregulation of EGFRvIII and PI3Kp110δ.

Background: The treatment efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors like erlotinib has not met expectations for glioblastoma therapy, even for EGFR-overexpressing tumors. We determined possible mechanisms of therapy resistance using the unique BS153 glioblastoma cell line, which has retained amplification of the egfr gene and expression of EGFR variant (v)III.

Methods: Functional effects of erlotinib, gefitinib, and cetuximab on BS153 proliferation, migration, and EGFR-dependent signal transduction were systematically compared in vitro.

Live imaging of active fluorophore labelled Wnt proteins.

For almost 30 years, Wnt proteins have been known as key regulators of many developmental decisions, including the formation of the embryonic axes, patterning of the CNS, limb bud outgrowth and segment polarity. However, live cell imaging of active Wnt proteins was rarely reported. Here, we have generated a Wnt2b-EGFP fusion protein that retains functionality in bona fide Wnt activity assays, although the secreted protein is rapidly cleaved by extracellular proteases.