TNFα inhibitor C87 sensitizes EGFRvIII transfected glioblastoma cells to gefitinib by a concurrent blockade of TNFα signaling.

Objective: More than half of human glioblastomas show gene amplification and mutation, but EGFR inhibitors have not been effective in treating EGFR-positive glioblastoma patients. The mechanism behind this type of primary resistance is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate gefitinib resistance in glioblastoma, and explore ways to circumvent this significant clinical problem.