Overexpression of EGFR drives
glioblastomas (GBM) cell invasion but these tumours remain resistant to EGFR-targeted
therapies such as
tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Endocytosis, an important modulator of EGFR function, is often dysregulated in
glioma cells and is associated with
therapy resistance. However, the impact of TKIs on EGFR endocytosis has never been examined in GBM cells. In the present study, we showed that
gefitinib and other
tyrosine kinase inhibitors induced EGFR accumulation in early-endosomes as a result of an increased endocytosis. Moreover, TKIs trigger early-endosome re-localization of another membrane receptor, the
fibronectin receptor alpha5beta1 integrin, a promising therapeutic target in GBM that regulates physiological EGFR endocytosis and recycling in
cancer cells. Super-resolution dSTORM imaging showed a close-proximity between
beta1 integrin and EGFR in intracellular membrane compartments of
gefitinib-treated cells, suggesting their potential interaction. Interestingly,
integrin depletion delayed
gefitinib-mediated EGFR endocytosis. Co-endocytosis of EGFR and
alpha5beta1 integrin may alter
glioma cell response to
gefitinib. Using an in vitro model of
glioma cell dissemination from spheroid, we showed that
alpha5 integrin-depleted cells were more sensitive to TKIs than alpha5-expressing cells. This work provides evidence for the first time that EGFR TKIs can trigger massive EGFR and
alpha5beta1 integrin co-endocytosis, which may modulate
glioma cell invasiveness under therapeutic treatment.