scholarly journals The PI3K Pathway As Drug Target in Human Cancer

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 1075-1083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin D. Courtney ◽  
Ryan B. Corcoran ◽  
Jeffrey A. Engelman

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling axis impacts on cancer cell growth, survival, motility, and metabolism. This pathway is activated by several different mechanisms in cancers, including somatic mutation and amplification of genes encoding key components. In addition, PI3K signaling may serve integral functions for noncancerous cells in the tumor microenvironment. Consequently, therapeutics targeting the PI3K pathway are being developed at a rapid pace, and preclinical and early clinical studies are beginning to suggest specific strategies to effectively use them. However, the central role of PI3K signaling in a large array of diverse biologic processes raises concerns about its use in therapeutics and increases the need to develop sophisticated strategies for its use. In this review, we will discuss how PI3K signaling affects the growth and survival of tumor cells. From this vantage, we will consider how inhibitors of the PI3K signaling cascade, either alone or in combination with other therapeutics, can most effectively be used for the treatment of cancer.

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 545-556
Author(s):  
Natalya Oskina ◽  
Aleksandr Shcherbakov ◽  
Maksim Filipenko ◽  
Nikolay Kushlinskiy ◽  
L. Ovchinnikova

Currently it is established that cancer is a genetic disease and that somatic mutations are the initiators of the carcinogenic process. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is an important intracellular signaling pathway regulating the cell growth and metabolic activities. Aberrant activation of the PI3K pathway is commonly observed in many different cancers. In this review we analyze the genetic alterations of PI3K pathway in a variety of human malignancies and discuss their possible implications for diagnosis and therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1103
Author(s):  
Marco Cippitelli ◽  
Helena Stabile ◽  
Andrea Kosta ◽  
Sara Petillo ◽  
Angela Gismondi ◽  
...  

The Ikaros zing-finger family transcription factors (IKZF TFs) are important regulators of lymphocyte development and differentiation and are also highly expressed in B cell malignancies, including Multiple Myeloma (MM), where they are required for cancer cell growth and survival. Moreover, IKZF TFs negatively control the functional properties of many immune cells. Thus, the targeting of these proteins has relevant therapeutic implications in cancer. Indeed, accumulating evidence demonstrated that downregulation of Ikaros and Aiolos, two members of the IKZF family, in malignant plasma cells as well as in adaptative and innate lymphocytes, is key for the anti-myeloma activity of Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs). This review is focused on IKZF TF-related pathways in MM. In particular, we will address how the depletion of IKZF TFs exerts cytotoxic effects on MM cells, by reducing their survival and proliferation, and concomitantly potentiates the antitumor immune response, thus contributing to therapeutic efficacy of IMiDs, a cornerstone in the treatment of this neoplasia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arunaksharan Narayanankutty

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the prominent forms of cancer in developed countries. Incidence of HCC is well correlated with fatty liver disease and cirrhosis; the underlying chronic inflammation and lipotoxicity are thought to drive the process of HCC. Several biochemical cycles and molecular pathways are associated with the carcinogenesis of the liver, of which the PI3K/Akt signaling is a common converging point. Objective: The review aims to provide a summary on the role of PI3K/Akt signaling and its downstream effectors in the development of HCC and its progression. Further, the emphasis has been given to the role of natural inhibitors of the PI3K/Akt pathway in HCC prevention, which are under various levels of drug discovery. Methods: The required literature were collected from PubMed/Medline databases, as well as Scopus or Web of science. Results: It is evident that various signaling pathways activated by growth factors together with detoxification machinery and biochemical cycles converge to the PI3K/Akt signaling. The pathway plays a key role in the carcinogenesis, metastasis and drug resistance events of HCC cells and provides the growth and survival advantage. Natural products belonging to various classes such as terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins and stilbenoids are proven inhibitors of PI3K signaling and also found to inhibit HCC progression. Conclusion: PI3K/mTOR pathway inhibitors, especially, the different phytochemicals are emerged as promising as antiHCC agents. These molecules are shown to interfere with the PI3K signaling at various stages and therefore the PI3K targeted drugs may be a future for the chemotherapeutic arena.


Author(s):  
Haniyeh Gaffari-Nazari ◽  
Samira Karami ◽  
Leila Noorazar ◽  
Sayeh Parkhideh ◽  
Elham Roshandel ◽  
...  

Background: The PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is one of the most important intracellular signaling pathways by regulating the cell cycle process. The direct relationship of this pathway with important mechanisms such as cell quiescence, longevity, and proliferation has been established. The overactive PI3K pathway with decreased and increased apoptosis and cell proliferation respectively is involved in pathogenesis of many cancers, including blood malignancies such as leukemia. Methods: Laboratory findings have shown that different factors, such as miRNAs, play a role in regulating PI3K signaling pathway. These molecules can alter the fate of a cell by interfering in suppression/overexpression of mRNA, transcription factors or stimulating the transcription of some genes. In this article, we reviewed the role of miRNAs in regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and its effect on leukemic progression and treatment failure. Conclusion: At present, miRNAs are known to be one of the causes of treatment failure and relapse in cancers.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 652
Author(s):  
Tiffany Bergot ◽  
Eric Lippert ◽  
Nathalie Douet-Guilbert ◽  
Séverine Commet ◽  
Laurent Corcos ◽  
...  

Deregulation of pre-mRNA splicing is observed in many cancers and hematological malignancies. Genes encoding splicing factors are frequently mutated in myelodysplastic syndromes, in which SF3B1 mutations are the most frequent. SF3B1 is an essential component of the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle that interacts with branch point sequences close to the 3’ splice site during pre-mRNA splicing. SF3B1 mutations mostly lead to substitutions at restricted sites in the highly conserved HEAT domain, causing a modification of its function. We found that SF3B1 was aberrantly spliced in various neoplasms carrying an SF3B1 mutation, by exploring publicly available RNA sequencing raw data. We aimed to characterize this novel SF3B1 transcript, which is expected to encode a protein with an insertion of eight amino acids in the H3 repeat of the HEAT domain. We investigated the splicing proficiency of this SF3B1 protein isoform, in association with the most frequent mutation (K700E), through functional complementation assays in two myeloid cell lines stably expressing distinct SF3B1 variants. The yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe was also used as an alternative model. Insertion of these eight amino acids in wild-type or mutant SF3B1 (K700E) abolished SF3B1 essential function, highlighting the crucial role of the H3 repeat in the splicing function of SF3B1.


2017 ◽  
Vol 243 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Y Maldonado ◽  
Diana Arsene ◽  
José M Mato ◽  
Shelly C Lu

Methionine adenosyltransferase genes encode enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of S-adenosylmethionine, the principal biological methyl donor and precursor of polyamines and glutathione. Mammalian cells express three genes – MAT1A, MAT2A, and MAT2B – with distinct expression and functions. MAT1A is mainly expressed in the liver and maintains the differentiated states of both hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells. Conversely, MAT2A and MAT2B are widely distributed in non-parenchymal cells of the liver and extrahepatic tissues. Increasing evidence suggests that methionine adenosyltransferases play significant roles in the development of cancers. Liver cancers, namely hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma, involve dysregulation of all three methionine adenosyltransferase genes. MAT1A reduction is associated with increased oxidative stress, progenitor cell expansion, genomic instability, and other mechanisms implicated in tumorigenesis. MAT2A/MAT2B induction confers growth and survival advantage to cancerous cells, enhancing tumor migration. Highlighted examples from colon, gastric, breast, pancreas and prostate cancer studies further underscore methionine adenosyltransferase genes’ role beyond the liver in cancer development. In this subset of extra-hepatic cancers, MAT2A and MAT2B are induced via different regulatory mechanisms. Understanding the role of methionine adenosyltransferase genes in tumorigenesis helps identify attributes of these genes that may serve as valuable targets for therapy. While S-adenosylmethionine, and its metabolite, methylthioadenosine, have been largely explored as therapeutic interventions, targets aimed at regulation of MAT gene expression and methionine adenosyltransferase protein–protein interactions are now surfacing as potential effective strategies for treatment and chemoprevention of cancers. Impact statement This review examines the role of methionine adenosyltransferases (MATs) in human cancer development, with a particular focus on liver cancers in which all three MAT genes are implicated in tumorigenesis. An overview of MAT genes, isoenzymes and their regulation provide context for understanding consequences of dysregulation. Highlighting examples from liver, colon, gastric, breast, pancreas and prostate cancers underscore the importance of understanding MAT’s tumorigenic role in identifying future targets for cancer therapy.


2011 ◽  
Vol 300 (6) ◽  
pp. H2169-H2176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Xue ◽  
Nan-Lin Li ◽  
Jing-Yue Yang ◽  
Yan Chen ◽  
Lu-Lu Yang ◽  
...  

We have previously demonstrated the roles of RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 in hypoxia-driven angiogenesis. However, the role of oncogenes in hypoxia signaling is poorly understood. Given the importance of Rho proteins in the hypoxic response, we hypothesized that Rho family members could act as mediators of hypoxic signal transduction. We investigated the cross-talk between hypoxia and oncogene-driven signal transduction pathways and explored the role of Rac1 on hypoxia-induced hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and VEGF expression. Since the phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase (PI3K) pathway is involved in signal transduction of many oncogenes, we explored the role of PI3K on Rac1-mediated expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in hypoxia. We showed that LY-294002, a PI3K inhibitor, suppressed HIF-1α and VEGF induction under hypoxic conditions by up to 50%. Activation of Rac1 resulted in an upregulation of hypoxia-induced HIF-1α expression, which was blocked by LY-294002. These data suggested that Rac1 is an intermediate in the PI3K-mediated induction of HIF-1α. Interestingly, there was a significant downregulation of the tumor suppressor genes p53 and von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor (VHL) in cells expressing a constitutively active form of Rac1. Rac1-mediated inhibition of p53 and VHL could therefore be implicated in the upregulation of HIF-1α expression.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 103 (12) ◽  
pp. 4503-4510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Moody ◽  
Lixin Xu ◽  
Cheryl D. Helgason ◽  
Frank R. Jirik

Abstract The myeloproliferative disorder of mice lacking the Src homology 2 (SH2)-containing 5′ phosphoinositol phosphatase, SHIP, underscores the need for closely regulating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway activity, and hence levels of phosphatidylinositol species during hematopoiesis. The role of the 3′ phosphoinositol phosphatase Pten in this process is less clear, as its absence leads to embryonic lethality. Despite Pten heterozygosity being associated with a lymphoproliferative disorder, we found no evidence of a hematopoietic defect in Pten+/- mice. Since SHIP shares the same substrate (PIP3) with Pten, we hypothesized that the former might compensate for Pten haploinsufficiency in the marrow. Thus, we examined the effect of Pten heterozygosity in SHIP-/- mice, predicting that further dysregulation of PIP3 metabolism would exacerbate the pheno-type of the latter. Indeed, compared with SHIP-/- mice, Pten+/-SHIP-/- animals developed a myelodysplastic phenotype characterized by increased hepatosplenomegaly, extramedullary hematopoiesis, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Consistent with a marrow defect, clonogenic assays demonstrated reductions in committed myeloid and megakaryocytic progenitors in these animals. Providing further evidence of a Pten+/-SHIP-/- progenitor abnormality, reconstitution of irradiated mice with marrows from these mice led to a marked defect in short-term repopulation of peripheral blood by donor cells. These studies suggest that the regulation of the levels and/or ratios of PI3K-derived phosphoinositol species by these 2 phosphatases is critical to normal hematopoiesis. (Blood. 2004;103:4503-4510)


2011 ◽  
Vol 211 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anyonya R Guntur ◽  
Clifford J Rosen

Studies on bone development, formation and turnover have grown exponentially over the last decade in part because of the utility of genetic models. One area that has received considerable attention has been the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway, which has emerged as a major survival network for osteoblasts. Genetic engineering has enabled investigators to study downstream effectors of PI3K by directly overexpressing activated forms of AKT in cells of the skeletal lineage or deleting Pten that leads to a constitutively active AKT. The results from these studies have provided novel insights into bone development and remodeling, critical processes in the lifelong maintenance of skeletal health. This paper reviews those data in relation to recent advances in osteoblast biology and their potential relevance to chronic disorders of the skeleton and their treatment.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Bimonte ◽  
Antonio Barbieri ◽  
Giuseppe Palma ◽  
Claudio Arra

Morphine, a highly potent analgesic agent, is widely used to relieve pain and suffering of patients with cancer. Additionally, it has been reported that morphine is important in the regulation of cancerous tissue. Morphine relieves pain by acting directly on the central nervous system, although its activities on peripheral tissues are responsible for many adverse side effects. For these reasons, it is very important also to understand the role of morphine in cancer treatment. The published literature reporting the effect of morphine on tumor growth presents some discrepancies, with reports suggesting that morphine may either promote or inhibit the tumor growth. It has been also demonstrated that morphine modulates angiogenesis which is important for primary tumour growth, invasiveness, and the development of metastasis. This review will focus on the latest findings on the role of morphine in the regulation of cancer cell growth and angiogenesis.


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