The
epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase is
implicated in a large number of human cancers. Most EGFR inhibitors
target the extracellular, growth factor-binding domain or the intracellular,
ATP-binding domain. Here we describe molecules that inhibit the kinase
activity of EGFR in a new way, by competing with formation of an essential
intradimer coiled coil containing the juxtamembrane segment from each
member of the receptor partnership. The most potent molecules we describe
bind EGFR directly, decrease the proliferation of wild-type and mutant
EGFR-dependent cells lines, inhibit phosphorylation of EGFR and downstream
targets, and block coiled coil formation as judged by bipartite tetracysteine
display. Potency is directly correlated with the ability to block
coiled coil formation within full-length EGFR in cells.