Clinical activity of mTOR inhibition with sirolimus in malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumors: Targeting the pathogenic activation of mTORC1 in tumors Journal Article


Authors: Wagner, A. J.; Malinowska-Kolodziej, I.; Morgan, J. A.; Qin, W.; Fletcher, C. D. M.; Vena, N.; Ligon, A. H.; Antonescu, C. R.; Ramaiya, N. H.; Demetri, G. D.; Kwiatkowski, D. J.; Maki, R. G.
Article Title: Clinical activity of mTOR inhibition with sirolimus in malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumors: Targeting the pathogenic activation of mTORC1 in tumors
Abstract: Purpose Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) represent a family of mesenchymal neoplasms, mechanistically linked through activation of the mTOR signaling pathway. There is no known effective therapy for PEComa, and the molecular pathophysiology of aberrant mTOR signaling provided us with a scientific rationale to target this pathway therapeutically. On this mechanistic basis, we treated three consecutive patients with metastatic PEComa with an oral mTOR inhibitor, sirolimus. Patients and Methods Patients with advanced PEComa were treated with sirolimus and consented to retrospective collection of data from their medical records and analysis of archival tumor specimens. Tumor response was determined by computed tomography scans obtained at the clinical discretion of the treating physicians. Tumors were assessed for immunohistochemical evidence of mTORC1 activation and genetic evidence of alterations in TSC1 and TSC2. Results Radiographic responses to sirolimus were observed in all patients. PEComas demonstrated loss of TSC2 protein expression and evidence of baseline mTORC1 activation. Homozygous loss of TSC1 was identified in one PEComa. Conclusion Inhibition of mTORC1, pathologically activated by loss of the TSC1/TSC2 tumor suppressor complex, is a rational mechanistic target for therapy in PEComas. The clinical activity of sirolimus in PEComa additionally strengthens the pathobiologic similarities linking PEComas to other neoplasms related to the tuberous sclerosis complex.
Keywords: neoplasms; gene; angiomyolipoma; sarcomas; rapamycin; pecoma; patient; lymphangioleiomyomatosis; tuberous sclerosis complex; advanced soft-tissue
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical Oncology
Volume: 28
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0732-183X
Publisher: American Society of Clinical Oncology  
Date Published: 2010-02-10
Start Page: 835
End Page: 840
Language: English
ACCESSION: ISI:000274368300022
DOI: 10.1200/jco.2009.25.2981
PROVIDER: wos
PUBMED: 20048174
PMCID: PMC4810029
Notes: --- - Article - "Source: Wos"
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  1. Cristina R Antonescu
    895 Antonescu
  2. Robert Maki
    238 Maki