Human and mouse mesotheliomas exhibit elevated AKT/PKB activity, which can be targeted pharmacologically to inhibit tumor cell growth Journal Article


Authors: Altomare, D. A.; You, H.; Xiao, G. H.; Ramos-Nino, M. E.; Skele, K. L.; De Rienzo, A.; Jhanwar, S. C.; Mossman, B. T.; Kane, A. B.; Testa, J. R.
Article Title: Human and mouse mesotheliomas exhibit elevated AKT/PKB activity, which can be targeted pharmacologically to inhibit tumor cell growth
Abstract: Malignant mesotheliomas (MMs) are very aggressive tumors that respond poorly to standard chemotherapeutic approaches. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/ AKT pathway has been implicated in tumor aggressiveness, in part by mediating cell survival and reducing sensitivity to chemotherapy. Using antibodies recognizing the phosphorylated/activated form of AKT kinases, we observed elevated phospho-AKT staining in 17 of 26 (65%) human MM specimens. In addition, AKT phosphorylation was consistently observed in MMs arising in asbestos-treated mice and in MM cell xenografts. Consistent with reports implicating hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/Met receptor signaling in MM, all 14 human and murine MM cell lines had HGF-inducible AKT activity. One of nine human MM cell lines had elevated AKT activity under serum-starvation conditions, which was associated with a homozygous deletion of PTEN, the first reported in MM. Treatment of this cell line with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin resulted in growth arrest in G1 phase. Treatment of MM cells with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 in combination with cisplatin had greater efficacy in inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis than either agent alone. Collectively, these data indicate that MMs frequently express elevated AKT activity, which may be targeted pharmacologically to enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy. These findings also suggest that mouse models of MM may be useful for future preclinical studies of pharmaceuticals targeting the PI3K/AKT pathway. © 2005 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved.
Keywords: immunohistochemistry; signal transduction; protein kinase b; controlled study; oncoprotein; human cell; gene deletion; proto-oncogene proteins; nonhuman; pathophysiology; cell proliferation; animal cell; mouse; animal; metabolism; animals; mice; animal tissue; cell survival; disease association; apoptosis; gene expression profiling; protein kinases; phosphatase; drug effect; enzymology; tumor cells, cultured; enzyme activity; protein serine threonine kinase; phosphorylation; phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase; physiology; animalia; disease model; homozygosity; biosynthesis; drug antagonism; cell culture; protein-serine-threonine kinases; mammalian target of rapamycin; tumor suppressor proteins; phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5 trisphosphate 3 phosphatase; 1-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; proto-oncogene proteins c-akt; pten phosphohydrolase; murinae; malignant mesothelioma; mesothelioma; tumor growth; akt; disease models, animal; tumor suppressor protein; protein kinase; phosphoric monoester hydrolases; pten protein, human; mtor; 2 morpholino 8 phenylchromone; enzyme induction; asbestos; akt1 protein, human
Journal Title: Oncogene
Volume: 24
Issue: 40
ISSN: 0950-9232
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 2005-09-08
Start Page: 6080
End Page: 6089
Language: English
DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1208744
PUBMED: 15897870
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 80" - "Export Date: 24 October 2012" - "CODEN: ONCNE" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Suresh C Jhanwar
    293 Jhanwar