Akt Hyperactivation Research Articles

Characterization and Signaling in a Primary Human Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma Cell Line

ABSTRACTSarcomas are rare tumors, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma found in adults. Increasing evidence suggests a possible role for AKT activation in soft tissue sarcoma. In the present study, we established a primary human MFH cell line (named MSUMFH cells) from a fresh surgically resected MFH tumor. These cells morphologically resembled human normal fibroblasts that are the presumptive cells of origin of MFH tumor cells. As there is, unfortunately, no standard marker other than morphology to identify MFH at the cellular level, we compared MSUMFH cells to primary nonmalignant fibroblasts and the primary tumor specimen to characterize its signaling. AKT was hyperactivated in both the MSUMFH cell line and original primary MFH tumor cells compared to normal fibroblasts. The AKT hyperactivity in the MSUMFH cell line was not accompanied by activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) or downregulated expression of PTEN, each of which is a putative upstream regulator of AKT. In contrast, this AKT hyperactivation required PI-3K and Src in MSUMFH cells. This PI-3K and Src-dependent AKT-activated MSUMFH cell line that we established in this study may be beneficial for the future cell-based study of MFH biology.

Akt inhibitors reduce glucose uptake independently of their effects on Akt

The protein kinase Akt is involved in various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, growth and metabolism. Hyperactivation of Akt is commonly observed in human tumours and so this pathway has been the focus of targeted drug discovery. However, Akt also plays an essential role in other physiological processes, such as the insulin-regulated transport of glucose into muscle and fat cells. This process, which is essential for whole-body glucose homoeostasis in mammals, is thought to be mediated via Akt-dependent movement of GLUT4 glucose transporters to the plasma membrane. In the present study, we have investigated the metabolic side effects of non-ATP-competitive allosteric Akt inhibitors. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, these inhibitors caused a decrease in the Akt signalling pathway concomitant with reduced glucose uptake. Surprisingly, a similar reduction in GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane was not observed. Further investigation revealed that the inhibitory effects of these compounds on glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were independent of the Akt signalling pathway. The inhibitors also inhibited glucose transport into other cell types, including human erythrocytes and T-47D breast cancer cells, suggesting that these effects are not specific to GLUT4. We conclude that these drugs may, at least in part, inhibit tumorigenesis through inhibition of tumour cell glucose transport.

How moderate changes in Akt T-loop phosphorylation impact on tumorigenesis and insulin resistance.

SUMMARYThe Akt signalling pathway plays vital roles in controlling cellular responses to insulin as well as in proliferation and survival. Inhibition of Akt signalling leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, whereas hyperactivation of Akt promotes tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigate how modest changes in the activity of the Akt signalling pathway, to an extent that might be achieved by drug treatment, would impact on insulin resistance and tumorigenesis. Using insulin-resistant PDK1K465E/K465E PH domain knock-in mice, we found that introducing the PTEN+/− mutation to slightly stimulate Akt restored normal insulin sensitivity. Introducing the PDK1K465E/K465E PH domain knock-in mutation into cancer-prone PTEN+/− mice, lowered Akt activity only by about 50%, but led to a delay in tumour onset of ∼4 months in a broad range of tumours. This was also accompanied by slower growth of B cell follicular lymphomas, as monitored by magnetic resonance imaging. Our findings imply that signal transduction inhibitors that lead to a modest reduction in Akt activity would not only delay onset of tumours possessing elevated phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway activity but would also reduce the growth rate of developed tumours.

From man to mouse and back again: advances in defining tumor AKTivities in vivo

AKT hyperactivation is a common event in human cancers, and inhibition of oncogenic AKT activation is a major goal of drug discovery programs. Mouse tumor models that replicate AKT activation typical of human cancers provide a powerful means by which to investigate mechanisms of oncogenic signaling, identify potential therapeutic targets and determine treatment regimes with maximal therapeutic efficacy. This Perspective highlights recent advances using in vivo studies that reveal how AKT signaling supports tumor formation, cooperates with other mutations to promote tumor progression and facilitates tumor-cell dissemination, focusing on well-characterized prostate carcinoma mouse models that are highly sensitive to AKT activation. The implications of these findings on the therapeutic targeting of AKT and potential new drug targets are also explored.

Neurofibromatosis-1 regulates neuroglial progenitor proliferation and glial differentiation in a brain region-specific manner

Recent studies have shown that neuroglial progenitor/stem cells (NSCs) from different brain regions exhibit varying capacities for self-renewal and differentiation. In this study, we used neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1) as a model system to elucidate a novel molecular mechanism underlying brain region-specific NSC functional heterogeneity. We demonstrate that Nf1 loss leads to increased NSC proliferation and gliogenesis in the brainstem, but not in the cortex. Using Nf1 genetically engineered mice and derivative NSC neurosphere cultures, we show that this brain region-specific increase in NSC proliferation and gliogenesis results from selective Akt hyperactivation. The molecular basis for the increased brainstem-specific Akt activation in brainstem NSCs is the consequence of differential rictor expression, leading to region-specific mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/rictor-mediated Akt phosphorylation and Akt-regulated p27 phosphorylation. Collectively, these findings establish mTOR/rictor-mediated Akt activation as a key driver of NSC proliferation and gliogenesis, and identify a unique mechanism for conferring brain region-specific responses to cancer-causing genetic changes.

Abstract 341: Effects of immunosuppressive cyclosporin A on epidermal keratinocytes

Abstract Non-melanoma skin cancer, the most common neoplasia after solid organ transplantation, causes serious morbidity and mortality and is related to sun exposure. Cyclosporin A (CsA) has been used widely to prevent rejection in organ transplantation. The mechanism of CsA action in causing cancer was thought to be well understood via immunosuppression. Here, we show that CsA promotes primary skin tumor growth in immune-deficient mice. CsA treatment at therapeutic plasma concentrations promotes growth and survival from removal of extracellular matrix or UVB radiation. CsA treatment enhances AKT activation following serum treatment and UVB radiation. Furthermore we found that PTEN expression, the negative regulator of AKT activation, is reduced significantly upon CsA treatment in human HaCaT and A431 cells and in mouse skin in vivo. Accordingly, the enhanced AKT activation in CsA-treated cells upon UVB radiation is observed in PTEN knockdown keratinocytes. CsA-induced PTEN suppression is critical for increased AKT activation. Inhibition of AKT activation abolishes CsA-promoted growth and survival, indicating that AKT hyperactivation is essential for the enhanced growth and survival of CsA-treated cells. In addition, mTOR signaling as a known AKT downstream target is required for CsA-enhanced growth and survival. Taken together, we have identified PTEN/AKT pathway as new molecular targets of CsA in epidermal keratinocytes, suggesting a previously unknown mechanism in CsA-enhanced skin carcinogenesis. Our findings challenge assumptions about how CsA-associated tumors arise in skin. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 341.

Rac1 is crucial for Ras-dependent skin tumor formation by controlling Pak1-Mek-Erk hyperactivation and hyperproliferation in vivo

Rac1 has a role in proliferation and survival of tumor cells in vitro. The exact effects of Rac1 on growth, apoptosis and corresponding signaling pathways during tumorigenesis in vivo, however, have not been explored yet. Using mice with a keratinocyte-restricted deletion of the Rac1 gene, we found that Rac1 is essential for DMBA/TPA-induced skin tumor formation. This corresponded to a decreased keratinocyte hyperproliferation, although apoptosis was not detectably altered. Activated Rac1 promoted Erk-dependent hyperproliferation by Pak1-mediated Mek activation independent of Mek1 phosporylation at serine 298. Rac1 was furthermore required for Pak2-dependent hyperactivation of Akt, which under in vivo condition was restricted to the suprabasal cell layers corresponding to a suprabasal-specific expression of Pak2. It is surprising that none of these signaling pathways was altered in untreated Rac1-deficient skin, indicating a hyperproliferation-specific function of Rac1 in vivo. These data suggest that blocking of Rac1 function might allow tumor-specific growth repression, as Rac1 is not required for normal growth and growth signaling controlling pathways in skin in vivo.

Immunosuppressive Cyclosporin A Activates AKT in Keratinocytes through PTEN Suppression: IMPLICATIONS IN SKIN CARCINOGENESIS

Non-melanoma skin cancer, the most common neoplasia after solid organ transplantation, causes serious morbidity and mortality and is related to sun exposure. Cyclosporin A (CsA) has been used widely to prevent rejection in organ transplantation. The mechanism of CsA action in causing cancer was thought to be well understood via immunosuppression. Here, we show that CsA promotes primary skin tumor growth in immune-deficient mice and keratinocyte growth in vitro. In addition, CsA enhances keratinocyte survival from removal of extracellular matrix or UVB radiation. At the molecular level, CsA increases AKT activation after serum treatment and UVB irradiation. Furthermore we found that expression of PTEN, the negative regulator of AKT activation, is significantly reduced post-CsA in human HaCaT and A431 cells and in mouse skin in vivo. CsA-induced PTEN down-regulation occurs at the transcription level and is epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent. Such PTEN suppression is required for increased AKT activation. Inhibition of AKT activation abolishes CsA-promoted growth and survival, indicating that AKT hyperactivation is essential for both growth and survival of CsA-treated cells. In addition, mTOR signaling as a known AKT downstream pathway is required for CsA-enhanced growth and survival. Taken together, we have identified the PTEN/AKT pathway as new molecular targets of CsA in epidermal keratinocytes, suggesting a previously unknown mechanism in CsA-enhanced skin carcinogenesis. Our findings challenge assumptions about how CsA-associated tumors arise in skin.

FoxM1B Regulates NEDD4-1 Expression, Leading to Cellular Transformation and Full Malignant Phenotype in Immortalized Human Astrocytes

Our recent studies have shown that the FoxM1B transcription factor is overexpressed in human glioma tissues and that the level of its expression correlates directly with glioma grade. However, whether FoxM1B plays a role in the early development of glioma (i.e., in transformation) is unknown. In this study, we found that the FoxM1B molecule causes cellular transformation and tumor formation in normal human astrocytes (NHA) immortalized by p53 and pRB inhibition. Moreover, brain tumors that arose from intracranial injection of FoxM1B-expressing immortalized NHAs displayed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) phenotypes, suggesting that FoxM1B overexpression in immortalized NHAs not only transforms the cells but also leads to GBM formation. Mechanistically, our results showed that overexpression of FoxM1B upregulated NEDD4-1, an E3 ligase that mediates the degradation and downregulation of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) in multiple cell lines. Decreased PTEN in turn resulted in the hyperactivation of Akt, which led to phosphorylation and cytoplasmic retention of FoxO3a. Blocking Akt activation with phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt inhibitors inhibited the FoxM1B-induced transformation of immortalized NHAs. Furthermore, overexpression of FoxM1B in immortalized NHAs increased the expression of survivin, cyclin D1, and cyclin E, which are important molecules for tumor growth. Collectively, these results indicate that overexpression of FoxM1B, in cooperation with p53 and pRB inhibition in NHA cells, promotes astrocyte transformation and GBM formation through multiple mechanisms.

A Small Molecule Inhibits Akt through Direct Binding to Akt and Preventing Akt Membrane Translocation

The Akt pathway is frequently hyperactivated in human cancer and functions as a cardinal nodal point for transducing extracellular and intracellular oncogenic signals and, thus, presents an exciting target for molecular therapeutics. Here we report the identification of a small molecule Akt/protein kinase B inhibitor, API-1. Although API-1 is neither an ATP competitor nor substrate mimetic, it binds to pleckstrin homology domain of Akt and blocks Akt membrane translocation. Furthermore, API-1 treatment of cancer cells results in inhibition of the kinase activities and phosphorylation levels of the three members of the Akt family. In contrast, API-1 had no effects on the activities of the upstream Akt activators, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phosphatidylinositol-dependent kinase-1, and mTORC2. Notably, the kinase activity and phosphorylation (e.g. Thr(P)(308) and Ser(P)(473)) levels of constitutively active Akt, including a naturally occurring mutant AKT1-E17K, were inhibited by API-1. API-1 is selective for Akt and does not inhibit the activation of protein kinase C, serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase, protein kinase A, STAT3, ERK1/2, or JNK. The inhibition of Akt by API-1 resulted in induction of cell growth arrest and apoptosis selectively in human cancer cells that harbor constitutively activated Akt. Furthermore, API-1 inhibited tumor growth in nude mice of human cancer cells in which Akt is elevated but not of those cancer cells in which it is not. These data indicate that API-1 directly inhibits Akt through binding to the Akt pleckstrin homology domain and blocking Akt membrane translocation and that API-1 has anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo and could be a potential anti-cancer agent for patients whose tumors express hyperactivated Akt.

GSK690693 Delays Tumor Onset and Progression in Genetically Defined Mouse Models Expressing Activated Akt

Akt plays a central role in regulating tumor cell survival and cell cycle progression and is regarded as a promising therapeutic target. We used genetically defined mouse models that develop spontaneous tumors exhibiting activated Akt to determine if Akt inhibition by GSK690693 is effective in the treatment of cancer. The broad long-term objective of this project was to use preclinical cancer models with precisely defined genetic lesions to elucidate the efficacy of targeting Akt with GSK690693. We tested the in vivo effects of GSK690693 in Lck-MyrAkt2 transgenic mice that develop lymphomas, heterozygous Pten(+/-) knockout mice that exhibit endometrial tumors, and TgMISIIR-TAg-DR26 mice that develop ovarian carcinomas, all of which exhibit hyperactivation of Akt. In addition to standard disease onset and histology, tumors arising in treated animals were examined by immunohistochemistry to verify downregulated Akt signaling relative to placebo-treated mice. When possible, drug response was evaluated in tumor cell cultures by standard proliferation and apoptosis assays and by immunoblotting with various phosphospecific antibodies. GSK690693 exhibited efficacy irrespective of the mechanism of Akt activation involved. Interestingly, GSK690693 was most effective in delaying tumor progression in Lck-MyrAkt2 mice expressing a membrane-bound, constitutively active form of Akt. Both tumors and primary cell cultures displayed downregulation of the Akt pathway, increased apoptosis, and primarily decreased cell proliferation. These results suggest that GSK690693 or other Akt inhibitors might have therapeutic efficacy in human cancers with hyperactivated Akt and/or a dependence on Akt signaling for tumor progression.

The Molecular Mechanism of Nitration Mediated Hyper-activation of Akt: its role in eNOS Mitochondrial Translocation

The Molecular Mechanism of Nitration Mediated Hyper-activation of Akt: its role in eNOS Mitochondrial Translocation

Integrated Molecular and Clinical Analysis of AKT Activation in Metastatic Melanoma

PURPOSE: Activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathway has been implicated in melanoma based primarily on the prevalence of mutations in PTEN and NRAS. To improve our understanding of the regulation and clinical significance of the PI3K-AKT pathway in melanoma, we quantitatively measured the levels of phosphorylated AKT, its substrate GSK3alpha/beta, and its negative regulator PTEN in clinical metastases. Results were compared with mutational status, clinical outcomes, and sites of metastasis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: DNA and protein were isolated from dissected frozen melanoma metastases (n = 96). Activating mutations of BRAF, NRAS, AKT, PIK3CA, and KIT were detected by mass spectroscopy genotyping. Phosphorylated AKT (Ser473 and Thr308), P-GSK3alpha/beta, and PTEN protein expression were measured by reverse-phase protein array. A panel of human melanoma cells lines (n = 58) was analyzed for comparison. RESULTS: BRAF-mutant tumors had higher levels of P-AKT-Ser473 (P = 0.01), P-AKT-Thr308 (P = 0.002), and P-GSK3alpha/beta (P = 0.08) than NRAS-mutant tumors. Analysis of individual tumors showed that almost all tumors with elevated P-AKT had low PTEN levels; NRAS-mutant tumors had normal PTEN and lower P-AKT. Similar results were observed in melanoma cell lines. Stage III melanoma patients did not differ in overall survival based on activation status of the PI3K-AKT pathway. Brain metastases had significantly higher P-AKT and lower PTEN than lung or liver metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative interrogation of the PI3K-AKT pathway in melanoma reveals unexpected significant differences in AKT activation by NRAS mutation and PTEN loss, and hyperactivation of AKT in brain metastases. These findings have implications for the rational development of targeted therapy for this disease. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(24):7538-46).

Abstract B141: Effects of AZD8055, a novel mTOR kinase inhibitor, in human cancer cells developing resistance to rapamycin

Abstract Background: Cancer cells are thought to adapt to rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTORC1, by activating AKT via mTORC2 and others mTORC1-independent survival pathways. In this study, we explored the effects of AZD8055, an ATP competitive inhibitor of mTOR, inhibiting both mTORC1 and mTORC2, in cancer cells with intrinsic and developing resistance to rapamycin. Materials and Methods: Antiproliferative effects and cellular growth inhibition of AZD8055 and rapamycin were evaluated in a panel of 20 human cancer cell lines by MTT assay. Baseline and phosphorylated protein levels were assessed usingWestern blot. mRNA expression was studied by qRT-PCR. Results: AZD8055 and rapamycin (48h exposures) displayed antiproliferative effects in our cell panel at IC50s ranging 0.005–>3µM and 0.04–20µM, respectively. CAKI1 and SK-HEP1 cells expressed high mRNA levels of mesenchymal markers (vimentin, N-cadherin, ZEB1, SIP1, SLUG, ACTA2, and HMGA2) and low levels of E-cadherin associated with intrinsic resistance to several receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. AZD8055 induced antiproliferative effects in CAKI1 and SK-HEP1 cells at concentrations <0.1µM. In CAKI1 and SK-HEP1 cells exposed to 0.1µM rapamycin for 5–24h, we observed the inhibition of p-S6 Ser235/236 but an activation of p-AKTser473. Consistent with its mechanism of action, exposure to 0.1µM AZD8055 led to the inhibition to p-S6, and p-4EBP1Ser65, without p-AKT ser473 activation. Downstream to mTORC2, PKC Ser657 was transiently activated by both rapamycin and AZD8055 in CAKI1 cells but not in SK-HEP1 cells. To study the acquired resistance to rapamycin, SK-HEP1 cells were grown with increased concentrations of rapamycin for >6 months, making these cells tolerant to ≥4-fold IC50 concentrations. In SK-RAP cells, we observed the transcriptional activation of IGF1R, TGFB2, the anti-apoptotic factors BCL2 and CDKN1Ap21, and the multidrug resistance ABCB1mdr1. In SK-RAP cells, sustained exposure to rapamycin increased pAKTser473 and decreased p-S6 and p-PKC. Consistent with the inhibition of mTOR kinase activity, exposure to AZD8055 for 5h almost completely abrogated rapamycin-induced AKTser473 activation in SK-RAP cells. Furthermore, SK-RAP cells were more sensitive to AZD8055 than to the parental SK-HEP1 cells (IC50: 0.1 versus >3µM, p=0.044), possibly due to the extended functions of AZD8055 against mTORC1 and inhibition of mTORC2. Conclusions: AZD8055, by inhibiting mTOR kinase activity, decreases mTORC1 substrates pS6 and p-4EBP1Ser65 and mTORC2 substrate AKTser473. AZD8055 decreases cancer cell proliferation in cell lines expressing mesenchymal markers displaying intrinsic and developing resistance to rapamycin, abrogating the hyperactivation of AKT observed in these cells after rapamycin exposure. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):B141.

Abstract C198: CX-4945, a novel small molecule inhibitor of CK2 protein kinase, reduces hyperactivated Akt signaling and synergizes with Akt inhibitors in breast cancer cells

Abstract Akt, a critical protein kinase in the PI3K signaling pathway regulates multiple biological processes that are important in tumorigenesis. This “Master Regulator Kinase” is often hyperactivated in cancer through various mechanisms, including mutations or deletions in Akt, PI3K or PTEN tumor suppressor. The last decade witnessed the emergence of another “Master Regulator Kinase” - CK2. Like Akt, CK2 controls the growth, proliferation and survival of cancer cells. Ironically, CK2 regulates Akt through phosphorylation and down regulation of PTEN and via direct and specific phosphorylation of Akt at Ser129. This phosphorylation event by CK2 further stimulates the activity of Akt, thereby enhancing the “driver effect” of Akt in promoting oncogenic signaling. Unlike Akt, CK2 does not require phosphorylation for activation but rather its activity appears to be regulated through expression levels. Due to the unique shape of the ATP-binding site and an incomplete understanding of the regulation of CK2 expression, pharmacological targeting of CK2 has proven to be very challenging. To date only one small molecule inhibitor of CK2, CX-4945, has advanced into clinical development. Herein, we describe the pharmacological characterization of CX-4945, its impact on Akt signaling and implications for combination therapies. The high incidence of abnormalities found in the PI3K pathway in breast cancers and the distinct roles that CK2 and Akt play in this disease have made it an attractive tumor type to study the effects of CX-4945. A cell viability screen of 16 diverse but genetically well-characterized breast cancer lines revealed that cells carrying mutations causing Akt-activation were significantly more sensitive to CX-4945 than those that did not. Western blot analyses of these cell lines demonstrated good correlation between the phosphorylation of Akt at Ser129 and expression of catalytic subunits of CK2. Treatment with CX-4945 resulted in dramatic reductions of phosphorylation of Akt at Ser129 and reductions in phosphorylation of the downstream targets of Akt, e.g. p21. Upon combination of CX-4945 with inhibitors that targeted the PI3K/Akt pathway, we observed synergistic antiproliferative activity in breast cancer cells. Thus, evaluation of the effects of CX-4945 on the Akt pathway in breast cancer cell lines may allow for the identification of patient populations more sensitive to CX-4945 and guide the selection of more effective combination therapies for cancer patients. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):C198.

Oncogenic Ras, but not V600EB-RAF, protects from cholesterol depletion-induced apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT pathway in colorectal cancer cells

Cholesterol is necessary for proliferation and survival of transformed cells. Here we analyse the effect of cholesterol depletion on apoptosis and the mechanisms underlying this effect in colorectal cancer cells carrying oncogenic Ras or (V600E)B-RAF mutations. We show that chronic cholesterol depletion achieved with lipoprotein-deficient serum (LPDS) and 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) treatment results in a significant increase in apoptosis in HT-29 and Colo-205 cells containing the (V600E)B-RAF mutation, but not in HCT-116 and LoVo cells harbouring the (G13D)Ras mutation, or BE cells, which possess two mutations, (G13D)Ras and (G463V)B-RAF. We also demonstrate that oncogenic Ras protects from apoptosis induced by cholesterol depletion through constitutive activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway. The specific activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway by overexpression of the (V12)RasC40 mutant or a constitutively active AKT decreases the LPDS plus 25-HC-induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells, whereas PI3K inhibition or abrogation of AKT expression renders HCT-116 sensitive to cholesterol depletion-induced apoptosis. Moreover, our data show that LPDS plus 25-HC increases the activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinase proteins only in HT-29 cells and that the inhibition of this kinase blocks the apoptosis induced by LPDS plus 25-HC. Finally, we demonstrate that AKT hyperactivation by oncogenic Ras protects from apoptosis, preventing the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase by cholesterol depletion. Thus, our data demonstrate that low levels of cholesterol induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells without oncogenic Ras mutations. These results reveal a novel molecular characteristic of colon tumours containing Ras or B-RAF mutations and should help in defining new targets for cancer therapy.

Elesclomol, counteracted by Akt survival signaling, enhances the apoptotic effect of chemotherapy drugs in breast cancer cells

Elesclomol is a small-molecule investigational agent that selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells by increasing oxidative stress. Elesclomol plus paclitaxel was shown to prolong progression-free survival compared with paclitaxel alone in a phase II clinical trial in patients with metastatic melanoma. However, the therapeutic potential of elesclomol in human breast cancer is unknown, and the signaling mechanism underlying the elesclomol effect is unclear. Here, we show that elesclomol alone modestly inhibited the growth of human breast cancer cells but not normal breast epithelial cells. Elesclomol potentiated doxorubicin- or paclitaxel-induced apoptosis and suppression of breast cancer cell growth. While both c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase were activated by elesclomol, elesclomol-induced apoptosis was only in part mediated by JNK1. The additive effect of elesclomol on chemotherapy drug-induced apoptosis was associated with increases in cleaved caspase-3, p21(Cip1), and p27(Kip1) and decreases in the Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein levels and NF-kappaB activity. We also found that Akt/Hsp70 survival signaling was induced by elesclomol, which may reflect a cellular feedback mechanism. Blockade of Akt activation using a small-molecule inhibitor enhanced elesclomol-elicited apoptosis, while expression of a hyperactive Akt abolished the elesclomol effect. These data suggest that elesclomol's interaction with conventional chemotherapeutic and Akt-targeting agents may be exploited to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells, and clinical trials of combined treatment of elesclomol and chemotherapy drugs or Akt-targeting agents in breast cancer patients, especially the estrogen receptor negative subgroup, may be warranted.

The role of PAK-1 in activation of MAP kinase cascade and oncogenic transformation by Akt

The activity of protein kinase B, also known as Akt, is commonly elevated in human malignancies and plays a crucial role in oncogenic transformation. The relationship between Akt and the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, which is also frequently associated with oncogenesis, remains controversial. We report here examples of cooperation between Akt and cRaf in oncogenic transformation, which was accompanied by elevated activity of extracellular signal-regulated mitogen-activated protein kinases. The effect of Akt on extracellular signal-regulated kinases depended on the status of p21-activated kinase (PAK). Importantly, disruption of the function of PAK not only uncoupled the activation of Akt from that of extracellular signal-regulated kinases, but also greatly reduced the capacity of Akt to act as a transforming oncogene. For the malignancies with hyperactive Akt, our observations support the role for PAK-1 as a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

Aberrant Hyperactivation of Akt and Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 Signaling in Sporadic Chordomas

Chordomas are rare, malignant bone neoplasms in which the pathogenic mechanisms remain unknown. Interestingly, tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is the only syndrome in which the incidence of chordomas has been described. We previously reported the pathogenic role of the TSC genes in TSC-associated chordomas. In this study, we investigated whether aberrant TSC/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway is associated with sporadic chordomas. We assessed the status of mTORC1 signaling in primary tumors/cell lines of sacral chordomas and further examined upstream of mTORC1 signaling, including the PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten) tumor suppressor. We also tested the efficacy of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin on signaling and growth of chordoma cell lines. Sporadic sacral chordoma tumors and cell lines examined commonly displayed hyperactivated Akt and mTORC1 signaling. Strikingly, expression of PTEN, a negative regulator of mTORC1 signaling, was not detected or significantly reduced in chordoma-derived cell lines and primary tumors. Furthermore, rapamycin inhibited mTORC1 activation and suppressed proliferation of chordoma-derived cell line. Our results suggest that loss of PTEN as well as other genetic alterations that result in constitutive activation of Akt/mTORC1 signaling may contribute to the development of sporadic chordomas. More importantly, a combination of Akt and mTORC1 inhibition may provide clinical benefits to chordoma patients.

Head and Neck Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer