About the Authors

Silvia La Monica

Affiliation Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Cristina Caffarra

Affiliation Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Francesca Saccani

Affiliation Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Elena Galvani

Affiliations Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy, Department Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Maricla Galetti

Affiliations Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL) Research Center at the University of Parma, Italy

Claudia Fumarola

Affiliation Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Mara Bonelli

Affiliation Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Andrea Cavazzoni

Affiliation Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Daniele Cretella

Affiliation Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Rita Sirangelo

Affiliation Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Rita Gatti

Affiliation Department of Biotechnology, Biomedical and Translational Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Marcello Tiseo

Affiliation Division of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy

Andrea Ardizzoni

Affiliation Division of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy

Elisa Giovannetti

roberta.alfieri@unipr.it (RA); e.giovannetti@vumc.nl (E. Giovannetti)

Affiliation Department Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Pier Giorgio Petronini

Affiliation Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Roberta R. Alfieri

roberta.alfieri@unipr.it (RA); e.giovannetti@vumc.nl (E. Giovannetti)

Affiliation Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Competing Interests

This work was supported by AstraZeneca. The Gefitinib used in this study is marketed by AstraZeneca and was provided by them. NVP-BEZ235 was provided by Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. There are no further patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials, as detailed online in the guide for authors.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: SL RRA PGP. Performed the experiments: SL CC FS E. Galvani MG CF MB RS. Analyzed the data: E. Giovannetti AA RRA. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: RG DC AC. Wrote the manuscript: RRA SL E. Giovannetti. Critically revision of the manuscript: PGP AA MT.