Inhibition of constitutively activated phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/AKT pathway enhances antitumor activity of chemotherapeutic agents in breast cancer susceptibility gene 1‐defective breast cancer cells12. Issue 9 (4th April 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yi, Yong Weon; Kang, Hyo Jin; Kim, Hee Jeong; Hwang, Jae Seok; Wang, Antai; Bae, Insoo
• Is Part Of: Molecular carcinogenesis. Volume 52:Issue 9(2013:Sep.)
• Page Start: 667
• Page End: 675
• Publication Date: 2012-04-04
• Subjects: Carcinogenesis -- Molecular aspects -- Periodicals; 616.994071
• DOI: 10.1002/mc.21905
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-1987

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Loss or decrease of wild type BRCA1 function, by either mutation or reduced expression, has a role in hereditary and sporadic human breast and ovarian cancers. We report here that the PI3K/AKT pathway is constitutively active in BRCA1‐defective human breast cancer cells. Levels of phospho‐AKT are sustained even after serum starvation in breast cancer cells carrying deleterious BRCA1 mutations. Knockdown of BRCA1 in MCF7 cells increases the amount of phospho‐AKT and sensitizes cells to small molecule protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs) targeting the PI3K/AKT pathway. Restoration of wild type BRCA1 inhibits the activated PI3K/AKT pathway and de‐sensitizes cells to PKIs targeting this pathway in BRCA1 mutant breast cancer cells, regardless of PTEN mutations. In addition, clinical PI3K/mTOR inhibitors, PI‐103, and BEZ235, showed anti‐proliferative effects on BRCA1 mutant breast cancer cell lines and synergism in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs, cisplatin, doxorubicin, topotecan, and gemcitabine. BEZ235 synergizes with the anti‐proliferative effects of gemcitabine by enhancing caspase‐3/7 activity. Our results suggest that the PI3K/AKT pathway can be an important signaling pathway for the survival of BRCA1‐defective breast cancer cells and pharmacological inhibition of this pathway is a plausible treatment for a subset of breast cancers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </abstract>