LY294002对胆管癌细胞化疗增敏作用的探讨

目的：运用磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶抑制剂（phosphatidyhnositol 3-kinase，PI3-K）LY29400212-（4-吗啉基）-8-苯基-4氢-1-幕并吡喃-4-酮]作用于胆管癌细胞系QBC939，探讨抑制PI3K／AKT信号转导通路对胆管癌化疗的增敏作用。方法：MTT法检测单独使用5-FU，MMC，celecoxib，联合磷酸化抑制奔ILY294002．体外对胆管癌细胞系QBC939的抑制作用；运用流式细胞技术检测QBC939凋亡抑制率。结果：运用LY294002后能明显增加5-FU，MMC，celecoxib对胆管癌细胞系QBC939体外培养细胞的抑制作用，并且能提高其凋亡率。结论：LY294002能有效提高化疗药物5-FU，MMC，celecoxib体外对QBC939细胞抑制作用的敏感性；抑制PI3K介导的信号转导通路对胆管癌肿瘤的治疗中可能有一定的协同作用．     

抑制P13K／Akt通路提高肺腺癌细胞化疗的效果

摘要：目的探讨PI3K／Akt信号转导通路抑制剂LY294002对肺腺癌细胞株A549及裸鼠移植瘤化疗的增敏作用。方法采用MTT法及流式细胞仪检测LY294002、紫杉醇、LY294002联合紫杉醇对A549细胞增殖及凋亡的影响；通过裸鼠移植瘤模型检测LY294002、紫杉醇、LY294002联合紫杉醇对A549细胞成瘤性的影响。结果LY294002可增强紫杉醇对A549细胞的抑制作用，并且可提高其凋亡率。裸鼠移植瘤实验显示，LY294002与紫杉醇均可抑制移植瘤的生长，联用后抑瘤率增加。结论LY294002可增强紫杉醇对A549细胞、裸鼠移植瘤的化疗的敏感性，抑制PI3K／Akt信号转导通路可提高肺腺癌化疗的效果。     

PI3K/AKT特异性抑制剂LY294002对卵巢癌化疗增敏作用的研究

目的:探讨磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶(PI3K)抑制剂LY294002对卵巢癌化疗效果的影响.方法:将LY294002单独或与顺铂、紫杉醇联合作用于卵巢癌A2780、SKOV3细胞.MTT法检测DDP、顺铂单独或联合LY294002处理后对A2780、SKOV3细胞的抑制率;采用流式细胞技术检测药物单独或联合作用对A2780和SKOV3细胞凋亡的影响;应用Western blot检测A2780和SKOV3细胞中AKT及磷酸化AKT(p-AKT)蛋白表达的变化.结果:联合应用LY294002能够显著提高DDP、paclitaxel对A2780和SKOV3细胞抑制率;LY294002与DDP、paclitaxel的协同治疗指数小于1,二者起协同治疗作用;联合LY294002能够增加A2780和SKOV3细胞的凋亡水平.LY294002干预组与对照组相比p-AKT蛋白的表达降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).结论:LY294002能够有效提高卵巢癌A2780和SKOV3细胞对化疗药物DDP和paclitaxel的敏感性,抑制PI3K/AKT介导的信号传导通路,可明显提高卵巢癌细胞的化疗效果.     

PI3K抑制剂与化疗联合对人结肠癌HT-29细胞生长抑制的观察

目的:研究磷脂酰肌醇3激酶(PI3K)特异性抑制剂与化疗联合对人结肠癌HT-29细胞生长的抑制作用。方法:将对数生长期的HT-29细胞分为4组培养:空白对照组(培养液)、单药组(LY294002)、两药联合组(L-OHP+5-FU)和三药联合组(LY294002+L-OHP+5-FU)。LY294002、5-FU和L-OHP浓度分别为20、80和20μg/mL。收集培养8h的细胞,流式细胞仪检测凋亡率和细胞周期。收集培养24、48和72h的细胞,MTT法测定细胞增殖抑制率。免疫细胞化学SP法检测PI3K表达,倒置生物显微镜下观察和照像。结果:与对照组相比,三药联合组、两药联合组和单药组的细胞生长速度明显减慢,不同药物处理后细胞生长曲线呈现不同趋势。三药联合组PI3K蛋白表达率为(19.13±4.37)%,低于单药组(69.42±8.64)%和两药联合组(38.26±6.71)%,P<0.05。三药联合组细胞凋亡率为(27.50±2.53)%,高于两药联合组(9.93±3.58)%和单药组(5.77±2.21)%,P<0.01。结论:PI3K抑制剂和化疗药物L-OHP、5-FU联合使用对结肠癌细胞的抑制作用强于单独使用LY294002或化疗药物。     

抑制PI3K/Akt信号转导通路提高化疗效果的实验研究

目的:探讨通过抑制PI3K/Akt信号转导通路提高抗癌药物对恶性肿瘤细胞的杀伤作用。方法:采用噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法检测塞莱昔布、顺铂及多西紫杉醇单独或联合PI3K抑制剂LY294002对人宫颈癌HeLa细胞和人乳腺癌MCF7细胞的抑制率;采用流式细胞技术检测药物单独或联合作用对HeLa细胞和MCF7细胞凋亡的影响。结果:①联合LY294002能够显著提高塞莱昔布、顺铂及多西紫杉醇对HeLa细胞和MCF7细胞抑制率(P<0.05)。②LY294002与塞莱昔布、顺铂及多西紫杉醇的协同治疗指数均小于1,具有协同治疗作用。③联合LY294002能够增加HeLa细胞和MCF7细胞的凋亡水平。结论:抑制PI3K/Akt信号转导通路能够显著提高塞莱昔布、顺铂及多西紫杉醇对HeLa细胞和MCF7细胞的杀伤作用。     

奥沙利铂联合热疗抑制人大肠癌细胞LOVO体外增殖作用的研究

目的探讨奥沙利铂联合热疗体外抑制人大肠癌细胞增殖的效果,以确定联合方案是否具有协同效应。方法使用MTT法测定单独或联合应用奥沙利铂与热疗对人大肠癌LOVO细胞体外增殖的抑制作用,使用流式细胞仪检测不同方案对LOVO细胞凋亡率的影响。根据Veleriote法判断热化疗联合的作用效果;透射电镜观察细胞形态。结果与奥沙利铂化疗或单纯热疗相比,奥沙利铂与43℃热疗联合后对LOVO细胞增殖有显著的抑制作用(P＜0．01),24 h时流式细胞仪检测LOVO细胞的凋亡情况发现,热疗组、化疗组和热化疗组细胞凋亡率均较对照组显著升高(P＜0．01)。结论奥沙利铂与热疗联合对LOVO细胞的增殖抑制具有明显的协同作用,这可能与细胞凋亡的增多有关。     

奥沙利铂联合热疗抑制人大肠癌细胞LOVO体外增殖作用的研究

目的探讨奥沙利铂联合热疗体外抑制人大肠癌细胞增殖的效果，以确定联合方案是否具有协同效应。方法使用MTT法测定单独或联合应用奥沙利铂与热疗对人大肠癌LOVO细胞体外增殖的抑制作用，使用流式细胞仪检测不同方案对LOVO细胞凋亡率的影响。根据Veleriote法判断热化疗联合的作用效果；透射电镜观察细胞形态。结果与奥沙利铂化疗或单纯热疗相比，奥沙利铂与43℃热疗联合后对LOVO细胞增殖有显著的抑制作用（P〈0．01），24h时流式细胞仪检测LOVO细胞的凋亡情况发现，热疗组、化疗组和热化疗组细胞凋亡率均较对照组显著升高（P〈0．01）。结论奥沙利铂与热疗联合对LOVO细胞的增殖抑制具有明显的协同作用，这可能与细胞凋亡的增多有关。     

依维莫司与PI3K抑制剂联合他莫昔芬对ER阳性乳腺癌细胞系作用的观察

目的:探讨他莫昔芬(TAM)联合mTORC抑制剂依维莫司(EVE)和PI3K抑制剂LY294002(LY)阻断负反馈激活,分析对ER(+)乳腺癌细胞系增殖、凋亡和周期的影响。方法:乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7和BT474分为对照组、TAM、TAM+EVE、TAM+LY和TAM+EVE+LY 5组,分别检测肿瘤细胞的增殖、凋亡与周期以及信号通路的改变情况。结果:MCF-7和BT474接受药物处理以后,EVE明显抑制肿瘤细胞的增殖,A450分别为0.23和0.32,特别是在三药联合组,抑制细胞增殖更加显著,A450分别为0.16和0.20,P<0.05。细胞凋亡的研究显示,EVE可促进肿瘤细胞凋亡,三药联合以后,乳腺癌细胞MCF-7和BT474的凋亡率分别为30.1%和54.2%。细胞周期的研究显示,G1期比例升高,三药联合后MCF-7和BT474G1期比率分别为86.02%和84.91%。EVE可有效阻断mTOR信号通路的活化,但通过负反馈作用可导致磷酸化AKT 473位点的激活,而联合PI3K抑制剂后,这种负反馈作用被阻断。结论:内分泌治疗药物TAM联合mTOR抑制剂EVE和PI3K抑制剂可抑制ER(+)乳腺癌细胞增殖、促进细胞凋亡、阻滞细胞生长,达到更好的治疗效果。     

抑制PI3K/Akt通路提高HeLa细胞化疗效果的实验研究

 目的探讨抑制PI3K/Akt信号转导通路提高抗癌药物对人宫颈癌HeLa细胞的杀伤作用。方法采用MTT法检测Celecoxib、DDP及Docetaxel单独或联合PI3K抑制剂LY294002对人宫颈癌HeLa细胞的抑制率;采用流式细胞技术检测药物单独或联合作用对HeLa细胞凋亡的影响。结果(1)联合LY294002能够显著提高Celecoxib、DDP及Docetaxel对HeLa细胞抑制率;(2)LY294002与Celecoxib、DDP及Docetaxel的协同治疗指数均小于1,二者起协同治疗作用;(3)联合LY294002能够增加HeLa细胞的凋亡水平。结论抑制PI3K/Akt信号转导通路能够显著提高Celecoxib、DDP及Docetaxel对HeLa细胞杀伤作用。     

LY294002抑制PI3K/AKT信号通路对胃腺癌SGC-7901 细胞的影响

目的:观察应用PI3K抑制剂2-(4-吗啉基)-8-苯基-4氢-1-苯并吡喃-4酮(LY294002)对胃腺癌细胞株SGC-7901中磷脂酰肌酸3-激酶(PI3K)/丝氨酸苏氨酸激酶(AKT)信号通路的变化以及由此产生的细胞生长、侵袭及凋亡等方面的影响.方法:应用LY294002作用于胃腺癌细胞株SGC-7901,通过Western blot检测PI3K/AKT信号通路中相关蛋白质P-AKT、基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)、基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)、B细胞淋巴瘤/白血病-2(Bcl-2)、细胞周期素(CyclinD1)的表达情况.噻唑蓝比色法(MTT)和流式细胞法及Transwell等实验评价胃腺癌细胞增殖、侵袭、凋亡等变化.结果:与空白对照组和DMSO组相比,LY294002组能有效抑制P-AKT、MMP-2、MMP-9、Bcl-2及CyclinD1蛋白的表达.LY294002组自第2天起生存率明显下降(P<0.05).Transwell穿过细胞数结果分别为空白对照组(81.0±2.65)、DMSO组(81.3±1.52)、LY294002组(44.6±2.52),3组相比较差异具有统计学意义(F=255.1,P=0.000).LY294002组细胞周期被阻滞在G0/G1期,S期减少(P<0.05),早期凋亡的细胞数明显增多(F=149.66,P=0.000).结论:LY294002是一种对PI3K/AKT信号传导通路具有抑制作用的抑制剂,靶向PI3K的LY294002可以有效抑制胃腺癌SGC-7901细胞的PI3K/AKT信号通路中相关蛋白质的表达,在体外显著抑制细胞的增殖、侵袭,并促进细胞的凋亡,因此为临床肿瘤防治提供了新思路,针对信号传导通路的靶向治疗有望成为肿瘤治疗的新途径.     

PI3K/AKT信号通路阻断药联合小檗碱对前列腺癌DU145细胞生长的抑制作用

目的 探讨采用磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶(PI3K)抑制药——LY294002抑制磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶/丝苏氨酸蛋白激酶(PI3K/AKT)信号通路联合小檗碱对前列腺癌DU145细胞生长的抑制作用.方法 采用MTT法检测细胞增殖情况;采用流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率和细胞周期分布情况;采用Western blot检测细胞中PI3K、p-AKT、cyclin D1、bcl-2、BAX蛋白表达情况.结果 随着小檗碱作用浓度的增加,DU145细胞的增殖率逐渐降低;不同浓度小檗碱与LY294002联合处理对DU145细胞增殖的抑制作用均较相同浓度小檗碱单独处理增强(P﹤0.05).与空白对照组相比,小檗碱组DU145细胞的凋亡率增高(P﹤0.05),G0/G1期细胞所占比例增高(P﹤0.05),PI3K、p-AKT、cyclin D1、bcl-2蛋白表达水平均下调(P﹤0.05),BAX蛋白表达水平上调(P﹤0.05).与小檗碱组和空白对照组相比,小檗碱+LY294002组DU145细胞的凋亡率增高(P﹤0.05),G0/G1期细胞所占比例增高(P﹤0.05),PI3K、p-AKT、cyclin D1、bcl-2蛋白表达水平均下调(P﹤0.05),BAX蛋白表达水平上调(P﹤0.05).结论 小檗碱能够抑制DU145细胞增殖,并促进细胞凋亡和细胞周期阻滞,采用LY294002阻断PI3K/AKT信号通路能够明显增强小檗碱对前列腺癌DU145细胞生长的抑制作用.     

GSK-3beta reactivation with LY294002 sensitizes hepatoma cells to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis

Constitutive activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) confers resistance to apoptotic stimuli induced by chemotherapeutic agents in a variety of cancer cells. Therefore, the comprehension of mechanisms whereby PI3K downregulation interferes with chemotherapy is of major clinical interest for the elaboration of combined anticancer treatment modalities. Here, we examined the molecular mechanisms whereby the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 sensitized p53- and Fas-deficient hepatoma cells to etoposide and camptothecin. LY294002 increased Hep3B cell susceptibility to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis by enhancing the expression of DR4 and DR5 and the activation of caspase-8 and -3. Moreover, LY294002-mediated sensitization to chemotherapy involved mitochondrial Bax translocation and cytosolic cytochrome c accumulation. In Hep3B cells, LY294002 led to the reactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) by promoting its dephosphorylation on the serine 9 residue independently from Akt inhibition. The transient transfection of a constitutively active and non-phosphorylable S9AGSK-3beta mutant sensitized cells to etoposide cytotoxic effects while cell treatment with the small GSK-3beta inhibitor SB-415286 repressed the sensitizing effect of LY294002 on chemotherapy-induced apoptosis and caspase-8 activation. Altogether, our results show that LY294002 sensitizes hepatoma cells to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis via death receptor and mitochondria signalling pathways and that GSK-3beta reactivation is involved in this process. Therefore, PI3K-mediated GSK-3beta inhibition could be a mechanism by which cancer cells escape from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis.     

Synergistic augmentation of antimicrotubule agent-induced cytotoxicity by a phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor in human malignant glioma cells

Because the aberrantly activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway renders tumor cells resistant to cytotoxic insults, including those related to anticancer drugs, inhibition of the pathway may possibly restore or augment the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Using the human malignant glioma cell lines U87, A172, LN18, and LN229, we examined effects of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 on both apoptosis and cytotoxicity induced by chemotherapeutic agents, including antimicrotubule agents vincristine and paclitaxel, an alkylating agent 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, a topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide, and a DNA cross-linking agent cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum), and we compared the LY294002-induced enhancement of effects of those agents. Ten to 20 micro M LY294002 augmented both apoptosis and caspase 3-like activity caused by antimicrotubule agents to a larger extent than induced by 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, etoposide, and cisplatin in all four malignant glioma cell lines examined. The same doses of LY294002 enhanced cytotoxicity more efficiently with antimicrotubule agents than with other chemotherapeutic agents. Quantitative analyses using a modified isobologram and median effect plot method revealed that enhancement by LY294002 of vincristine- or paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity was synergistic, whereas enhancement by the PI3K inhibitor of the other chemotherapeutic agent-induced cytotoxicity was additive. Our study indicates that the synergistic augmentation of the cytotoxicity by LY294002 occurs specifically with antimicrotubule agents, at least partially through an increase in caspase 3-dependent apoptosis, and we suggest that inhibitors of the PI3K/Akt pathway in combination with antimicrotubule agents may induce cell death effectively and be a potent modality to treat patients with malignant gliomas.     

LY294002 and LY303511 sensitize tumor cells to drug-induced apoptosis via intracellular hydrogen peroxide production independent of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt pathway

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway is constitutively active in many tumors, and inhibitors of this prosurvival network, such as LY294002, have been shown to sensitize tumor cells to death stimuli. Here, we report a novel, PI3K-independent mechanism of LY-mediated sensitization of LNCaP prostate carcinoma cells to drug-induced apoptosis. Preincubation of tumor cells to LY294002 or its inactive analogue LY303511 resulted in a significant increase in intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production and enhanced sensitivity to non-apoptotic concentrations of the chemotherapeutic agent vincristine. The critical role of intracellular H2O2 in LY-induced death sensitization is corroborated by transient transfection of cells with a vector containing human catalase gene. Indeed, overexpression of catalase significantly blocked the amplifying effect of LY pretreatment on caspase-2 and caspase-3 activation and cell death triggered by vincristine. Furthermore, the inability of wortmannin, another inhibitor of PI3K, to induce an increase in H2O2 production at doses that effectively blocked Akt phosphorylation provides strong evidence to unlink inhibition of PI3K from intracellular H2O2 production. These data strongly support death-sensitizing effect of LY compounds independent of the PI3K pathway and underscore the critical role of H2O2 in creating a permissive intracellular milieu for efficient drug-induced execution of tumor cells.     

The in vitro effects of H-89, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase A, in the human colonic carcinoma cell line Caco-2.

SUMMARY: H-89 is a compound characterized in vitro as a potent and selective inhibitor of protein kinase A. In the present study, we observed that H-89 induced morphological transformation and caused growth inhibition of the human colon cancer cell line Caco-2 in a dose-dependent manner. However, another protein kinase A inhibitor, H-8, had no effect on Caco-2 cells. To evaluate the possible molecular mechanism of H-89-evoked effects in Caco-2 cells, we analysed the capacity of H-89 to regulate the protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) signalling pathway. H-89 treatment led to an activation of Akt/PKB in Caco-2 cells. This activation was phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)-kinase-dependent and promoted survival of Caco-2 cells because the PI3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 inhibited the Akt/PKB activation and induced apoptosis of Caco-2 cells. To test whether Akt/PKB activity promoted resistance to H-89-induced effects, LY294002 was added in combination with H-89. LY294002 greatly potentiated the H-89-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis of Caco-2 cells. These results suggest that the H-89-induced growth inhibition of Caco-2 cells is associated with phosphorylation of Akt/PKB protein and that the cells become more sensitive to H-89 and die by apoptosis upon inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway.     

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibition by LY294002 radiosensitizes human cervical cancer cell lines.

PURPOSE: The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) catalytic subunit is amplified in cervical cancers, implicating PI3K in cervical carcinogenesis. We evaluated the radiosensitizing effect of PI3K inhibition by LY294002 on clonogenic survival, growth characteristics, and gene expression in cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa and CaSki). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Cervical cancer cells were treated separately and concurrently with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 (10 micromol/L) and radiation (2 Gy) with serial analysis of cell count, apoptosis, and flow cytometry. PI3K inhibition was assessed by protein analysis of phosphorylated Akt. Clonogenic assays were done with varying doses of radiation and LY294002 and varied time points of administration of LY294002 proximate to the radiation dose. Surviving fractions and dose modification factors (DMF) were calculated. Each experiment was done in triplicate and analyzed using ANOVA regression analysis and Dunnett's t Test. Microarray gene expression analysis was done on the HeLa cell line. RESULTS: PI3K inhibition with LY294002 alone did not decrease cell survival. However, treatment with LY294002 significantly radiosensitized HeLa and CaSki cell lines with DMFs (1 log cell kill) of 1.95 and 1.37, respectively. Compared with post-irradiation, pretreatment produced more radiosensitization (P < 0.0001). DMFs were 2.2, 2.0, 2.0, and 1.2 for LY294002 added at 6, 2, and 0.5 hours before irradiation and 6 hours after irradiation, respectively. LY294002 pretreatment in irradiated HeLa cells led to altered gene expression. CONCLUSIONS: Although LY294002 alone did not produce cytotoxic effects, PI3K inhibition with LY294002 produced significant radiosensitization, showed significant time-dependent effects, increased apoptosis, and altered gene expression. These findings support future investigation of PI3K inhibitors in combination with radiation therapy for carcinoma of the cervix.     

PI3K特异性抑制剂LY294002对卵巢癌紫杉醇耐药细胞株逆转作用的研究

  目的  研究磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶（PI3K）特异性抑制剂LY294002对卵巢癌紫杉醇耐药细胞株（A2780/Taxol）多药耐药逆转的影响。  方法  将PI3K特异性抑制剂LY294002处理卵巢癌紫杉醇耐药细胞24 h后, 用CCK-8（Cell Counting Kit-8）法检测细胞的增殖速度、对紫杉醇敏感性的分析; 采用流式细胞技术检测细胞周期和凋亡。应用Western blot检测细胞中P-glycoprotein（P-gp）、Akt和p-Akt蛋白的表达情况。  结果  用LY294002处理A2780/Taxol细胞后细胞增殖速度变慢、对紫杉醇的半数抑制浓度（IC₅₀）降低。实验组和对照组细胞的凋亡率分别是（2.64±0.90）%和（10.98±1.16）%（P < 0.05）。LY294002处理后的G₀/G₁期细胞增加, S期明显减少, 差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。LY294002处理后的细胞与对照组相比P-gp和p-Akt的蛋白表达降低。  结论  LY294002能够有效的逆转卵巢癌紫杉醇耐药细胞A2780/Taxol产生的多药耐药。      

Phosphorylation of Akt/PKB is required for suppression of cancer cell apoptosis and tumor progression in human colorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Akt/protein kinase B (PKB), which is included in phosphatidyl inositol-3-OH kinase (PI3K) signaling, controls many intracellular processes, such as the suppression of apoptosis and the promotion of the cell cycle. Therefore, the authors investigated phosphorylated Akt (Ser473) in colorectal carcinomas to reveal the role of PI3K signaling during the development of colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: Expression of phosphorylated Akt (Ser473) in two colon carcinoma cell lines (DLD-1 and Colo205) and 65 human colorectal carcinomas was analyzed using western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis caused by LY294002, a specific inhibitor of PI3K, were also examined in these cell lines. In tumor samples, the level of cell proliferation activity (Ki-67) and number of apoptotic bodies (single stranded DNA) were determined by counting positive cells. RESULTS: LY294002 significantly affected the proliferation and apoptosis of Colo205 cells, suggesting an association with the low phosphorylation level of Akt protein. Immunohistochemic analysis showed that 46% of the tumors had a high level of expression of phosphorylated Akt with a close association with Ki-67 proliferative activity (P < 0.001) and the number of apoptotic bodies (P < 0.001). Akt phosphorylation was also correlated with some clinicopathologic parameters of the malignancies, including depth of invasion, infiltration to venous vessels, lymph node metastasis, and clinicopathologic stage. CONCLUSIONS: The phosphorylated Akt level can monitor cell growth and resistance to apoptosis, indicating that activation of Akt plays an important role during the progression of colorectal carcinomas by helping promote cell growth and rescue cells from apoptosis. These findings also suggest the possibility of using LY294002 for treatment of colorectal carcinoma.