Investigating and targeting EGFR heterogeneity in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is the most common adult brain tumour, with a dismal overall survival, which is partly due to tumour heterogeneity and treatment-resistance. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is commonly altered in glioblastoma and different EGFR mutations can co-occur in a single tumour, and even in a single tumour cell, driving resistance. Despite intense research into EGFR function, insights into the functional impact of EGFR heterogeneity in glioblastoma are hampered by the lack of appropriate models. In this project, we will use the fruit fly Drosophila and mammalian tissue culture to study how EGFR heterogeneity impacts on glioblastoma development and progression.