Targeting EGFR in NF1 Mutant Melanoma
Our study focused on melanoma patients with driver mutations in the neurofibromin 1 (NF1) tumor suppressor gene, a subset of melanoma patients that have not benefitted from recent treatment advances. We have leveraged patient-derived short-term cultures (STCs) and multiomics approaches to identify molecular features that could be developed into therapies for NF1 mutant melanoma patients. Our studies revealed that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is highly expressed and active in NF1 mutant melanoma cells, and that genetic or pharmacological EGFR inhibition impaired tumor cell proliferation, survival, and cell growth in patient-derived NF1 mutant but not NF1 wild-type melanoma models.