MiR-18b-5p对大肠癌PTEN/PI3K/Akt2信号通路的调控

目的:探讨miR-18b-5p对大肠癌PTEN/PI3K/Akt2信号转导通路的调控。方法:qRT-PCR方法检测33例大肠癌患者癌组织中miR-18b-5p表达水平,将患者临床病理特征与癌组织miR-18b-5p表达水平进行独立样本t检验和多元线性回归分析。应用microrna.org预测miR-18b-5p靶基因,miR-18b-5p 类似物、抑制物转染肠癌细胞SW480及HCT116,qRT-PCR检测细胞PTEN、PI3K、Akt2 mRNA表达水平。结果:在大肠癌患者癌组织中,miR-18b-5p表达水平显著增高,为癌旁组织的3.6倍(P<0.01 ),其表达水平与肿瘤分化程度、淋巴结转移及TNM分期相关。Microrna.org预测PTEN可能是miR-18b-5p的靶基因,大肠癌细胞转染类似物后PTEN含量明显降低,其下游基因PI3K、Akt2表达增高。结论:miR-18b-5p下调抑癌基因PTEN表达,诱导PI3K/Akt2信号转导通路持续活化,促进了大肠癌的发生发展。     

A MEK/PI3K/HDAC inhibitor combination therapy for KRAS mutant pancreatic cancer cells

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive, metastatic disease with limited treatment options. Factors contributing to the metastatic predisposition and therapy resistance in pancreatic cancer are not well understood. Here, we used a mouse model of KRAS-driven pancreatic carcinogenesis to define distinct subtypes of PDAC metastasis: epithelial, mesenchymal and quasi-mesenchymal. We examined pro-survival signals in these cells and the therapeutic response differences between them. Our data indicate that the initiation and maintenance of the transformed state are separable, and that KRAS dependency is not a fundamental constant of KRAS-initiated tumors. Moreover, some cancer cells can shuttle between the KRAS dependent (drug-sensitive) and independent (drug-tolerant) states and thus escape extinction. We further demonstrate that inhibition of KRAS signaling alone via co-targeting the MAPK and PI3K pathways fails to induce extensive tumor cell death and, therefore, has limited efficacy against PDAC. However, the addition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors greatly improves outcomes, reduces the self-renewal of cancer cells, and blocks cancer metastasis in vivo. Our results suggest that targeting HDACs in combination with KRAS or its effector pathways provides an effective strategy for the treatment of PDAC.     

Combination PI3K/MEK inhibition promotes tumor apoptosis and regression in PIK3CA wild-type, KRAS mutant colorectal cancer

PI3K inhibition in combination with other agents has not been studied in the context of PIK3CA wild-type, KRAS mutant cancer. In a screen of phospho-kinases, PI3K inhibition of KRAS mutant colorectal cancer cells activated the MAPK pathway. Combination PI3K/MEK inhibition with NVP-BKM120 and PD-0325901 induced tumor regression in a mouse model of PIK3CA wild-type, KRAS mutant colorectal cancer, which was mediated by inhibition of mTORC1, inhibition of MCL-1, and activation of BIM. These findings implicate mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic mechanisms as determinants for the efficacy of PI3K/MEK inhibition in the treatment of PIK3CA wild-type, KRAS mutant cancer.     

Alisol A attenuates malignant phenotypes of colorectal cancer cells by inactivating PI3K/Akt signaling

Despite the advancement in the diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer, the outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer remain unsatisfactory. Alisol A is a natural constituent of Alismatis rhizoma (zexie) and has demonstrated anti-cancer properties; however, the function of Alisol A in colorectal cancer is still unknown. In the present study, the effect of Alisol A on colorectal cancer progression was investigated. MTT and colony formation assays showed that treatment with Alisol A repressed colorectal cancer cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, western blot analysis demonstrated that Alisol A upregulated E-cadherin protein expression levels, but downregulated N-cadherin and Vimentin protein expression levels in colorectal cancer cells. In addition, the number of cells in G₀/G₁ phase was enhanced, while that of S phase was reduced in Alisol A-treated colorectal cancer cells. Apoptosis and pyroptosis of colorectal cancer cells were stimulated following treatment with Alisol A. Alisol A suppressed the migration ability of colorectal cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, Alisol A increased the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to cisplatin. Mechanically, western blot analysis confirmed that Alisol A repressed the phosphorylation levels of PI3K, Akt and mTOR in colorectal cancer cells. The Akt activator, SC79 reversed the effect of Alisol A on colorectal cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. In conclusion, Alisol A induced an inhibitory effect on colorectal cancer progression by inactivating PI3K/Akt signaling.     

ＰＩ３Ｋ／Ａｋｔ信号传导通路及其在结直肠癌中的研究进展

结直肠癌是常见的恶性肿瘤之一,近十年来,结直肠癌在我国的发病率呈逐年上升的趋势。已有研究表明,ＰＩ３Ｋ／Ａｋｔ信号传导通路是与细胞增殖和细胞凋亡关系最密切的信号传导通路之一。随着ＰＩ３Ｋ／ＡＫｔ信号通路在结直肠癌发生、发展中的研究不断深入,该通路对结直肠癌发生、发展及治疗药物的研发具有十分重要的价值。本文就ＰＩ３Ｋ／Ａｋｔ信号传导通路在结直肠癌发生、发展和治疗中的作用以及机制的研究进展作一综述。     

Increased signalling of EGFR and IGF1R, and deregulation of PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway are related with trastuzumab resistance in HER2 breast carcinomas

Background:

Trastuzumab resistance hampers its well-known efficacy to control HER2-positive breast cancer. The involvement of PI3K/Akt pathway in this mechanism is still not definitively confirmed.

Methods:

We selected 155 patients treated with trastuzumab after development of metastasis or as adjuvant/neoadjuvant therapy. We performed immunohistochemistry for HER2, ER/PR, epidermal growth factor 1-receptor (EGFR), α-insulin-like growth factor 1-receptor (IGF1R), phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN), p110α, pAkt, pBad, pmTOR, pMAPK, MUC1, Ki67, p53 and p27; mutational analysis of PIK3CA and PTEN, and PTEN promoter hypermethylation.

Results:

We found 46% ER/PR-positive tumours, overexpression of EGFR (15%), α-IGF1R (25%), p110α (19%), pAkt (28%), pBad (22%), pmTOR (23%), pMAPK (24%), MUC1 (80%), PTEN loss (20%), and PTEN promoter hypermethylation (20%). PIK3CA and PTEN mutations were detected in 17% and 26% tumours, respectively. Patients receiving adjuvant trastuzumab with α-IGF1R or pBad overexpressing tumours presented shorter progression-free survival (PFS) (all P⩽0.043). Also, p110α and mTOR overexpression, liver and brain relapses implied poor overall survival (OS) (all P⩽0.041). In patients with metastatic disease, decreased PFS correlated with p110α expression (P=0.024), whereas for OS were the presence of vascular invasion and EGFR expression (P⩽0.019; Cox analysis).

Conclusion:

Our results support that trastuzumab resistance mechanisms are related with deregulation of PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and/or EGFR and IGF1R overexpression in a subset of HER2-positive breast carcinomas.     

Plastin 1 drives metastasis of colorectal cancer through the IQGAP1/Rac1/ERK pathway

Tumor metastasis is the dominant cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, and it often involves dysregulation of various cytoskeletal proteins. Plastin 1 (PLS1) is an actin‐bundling protein that has been implicated in the structure of intestinal epithelial microvilli; however, its role in CRC metastasis has not yet been determined. In this study, we demonstrated that PLS1 is highly expressed in 33.3% (45/135) of CRC patients and is correlated with lymph node metastasis and poor survival. In in vitro and in vivo experiments, PLS1 induced the migration and invasion of CRC cells and the metastases to the liver and lung in mice. Moreover, the expressions of key factors for CRC metastases, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 and 2, were enhanced by PLS1, which was dependent on phosphorylating ERK1/2 activated by IQGAP1/Rac1 signaling. The connection between these signals and PLS1 was further confirmed in CRC tissues of patients and the metastatic nodules from a mouse model. These findings suggest that PLS1 promotes CRC metastasis through the IQGAP1/Rac1/ERK pathway. Targeting PLS1 may provide a potential approach to inhibit the metastasis of CRC cells.     

PTEN/PI3K信号转导相关蛋白在非小细胞肺癌组织中的表达及其意义

背景与目的:PTEN/PI3K信号转导途径能调节细胞的增殖与存活,与多种肿瘤的发生发展密切相关,但在肺癌中所起的作用及其相互关系尚不十分明确。本研究旨在探讨PTEN/PI3K信号转导相关蛋白IGF-1R、PTEN和PI3K在非小细胞肺癌(non-smallcelllungcarcinoma,NSCLC)中的表达及其意义。方法:利用免疫组织化学SP法检测59例NSCLC组织、19例转移的淋巴结组织、16例癌旁增生肺组织和7例正常肺组织中IGF-1R、PTEN和PI3K蛋白的表达。IGF-1R、PTEN和PI3K蛋白阳性率的差异比较采用卡方检验和Fisher确切概率法。结果:59例NSCLC组织中IGF-1R、PTEN和PI3K蛋白阳性率分别为:72.88%、27.12%和84.75%。IGF-1R以及PI3K蛋白的阳性率与NSCLC的临床病理特征无显著相关(P>0.05)。PTEN蛋白的阳性率与NSCLC的组织学类型、细胞分化程度无关(P>0.05),但与淋巴结转移显著相关(P=0.009)。NSCLC组及转移淋巴结组中PI3K、PTEN蛋白的阳性率与正常肺组织和癌旁增生肺组织相比,差异均有显著性(P<0.05)。59例NSCLC组织中IGF和PI3K之间具有显著正相关性(P=0.001),Pearson列联系数为0.432。PTEN和PI3K之间具有显著负相关(P=0.000),Pearson列联系数为0.505。结论:IGF-1R、PI3K蛋白的过表达和PTEN蛋白的低表达与肺癌的发生及浸润转移相关。     

PI3K pathway activation in breast cancer is associated with the basal‐like phenotype and cancer‐specific mortality

Breast cancer is a common malignancy with current biological therapies tailored to steroid hormone (ER, PR) and HER2 receptor status. Understanding the biological basis of resistance to current targeted therapies and the identification of new potential therapeutic targets is an ongoing challenge. The PI3K pathway is altered in a high proportion of breast cancers and may contribute to therapeutic resistance. We undertook an integrative study of mutational, copy number and expression analyses of key regulators of the PI3K pathway in a cohort of 292 invasive breast cancer patients with known treatment outcomes. The alterations identified in this cohort included PIK3CA mutations (12/168, i.e. 7%), PIK3CA copy number gain (28/209, i.e. 14%), PTEN loss (73/258, i.e. 28%) and AKT activation (62/258, i.e. 24%). Overall at least 1 parameter was altered in 72% (139/193) of primary breast cancers. PI3K pathway activation was significantly associated with ER negative (p = 0.0008) and PR negative (p = 0.006) status, high tumor grade (p = 0.032) and a “basal‐like” phenotype (p = 0.01), where 92% (25/27) of tumors had an altered pathway. In univariate analysis, PI3K pathway aberrations were associated with death from breast cancer; however, this relationship was not maintained in multivariate analysis. No association was identified between an activated pathway and outcome in tamoxifen‐ or chemotherapy‐treated patients. We concluded that >70% of breast cancers have an alteration in at least 1 component of the PI3K pathway and this might be exploited to therapeutic advantage especially in “basal‐like” cancers.     

姜黄素对人结肠癌细胞PI3-K/Akt和MEK/ERK信号通路的影响

目的:探讨姜黄素对人结肠癌RKO细胞PI3-K/Akt和MEK/ERK通路的影响。方法:MTT法检测细胞活力,Western blot检测p-Akt、Akt、p-ERK,ERK及凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2、Bax的表达。结果:姜黄素作用人结肠癌RKO细胞,24h和48h的IC50值分别为51.69μg/ml和36.12μg/ml。选用50μg/ml的姜黄素分别作用24h和48h,RKO细胞凋亡百分比为26.79%和42.16%,与对照组相比有显著差异(P＜0.05)。进一步检测发现姜黄素（50μg/ml）显著下调了p-Akt 和p-ERK的表达,同时Bcl-2与Bax的比值显著下调。结论:姜黄素可能通过抑制PI3-K/Akt和MEK/ERK信号通路的活化、下调Bcl-2与Bax的比值,从而抑制RKO细胞增殖和诱导细胞凋亡。     

The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway: Associations of miRNAs with dysregulated gene expression in colorectal cancer

The PI3K/AKT‐signaling pathway is one of the most frequently activated signal‐transduction pathways in cancer. We examined how dysregulated gene expression is associated with miRNA expression in this pathway in colorectal cancer (CRC). We used data from 217 CRC cases to evaluate differential pathway gene expression between paired carcinoma and normal mucosa and identify miRNAs that are associated with these genes. Gene expression data from RNA‐Seq and miRNA expression data from Agilent Human miRNA Microarray V19.0 were analyzed. We focused on genes most associated with CRC (fold change (FC) of >1.5 or <0.67) that were statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Of the 304 genes evaluated, 76 had a FC of <0.67, and 57 had a FC of >1.50; 47 of these genes were associated with miRNA differential expression. There were 145 mRNA:miRNA seed‐region matches of which 26 were inversely associated suggesting a greater likelihood of a direct association. Most miRNA:mRNA associations were with factors that stimulated the pathway. For instance, both IL6R and PDGFRA had inverse seed‐region matches with seven miRNAs, suggesting that these miRNAs have a direct effect on these genes and may be key elements in activation of the pathway. Other miRNA:mRNA associations with similar impact on the pathway were miR‐203a with ITGA4, miR‐6071 with ITGAV, and miR‐375 with THBS2, all genes involved in extracellular matrix function that activate PI3Ks. Gene expression in the PI3K/Akt‐signaling pathway is dysregulated in CRC. MiRNAs were associated with many of these dysregulated genes either directly or in an indirect manner.     

ERK1/2通路基因突变对低级浆液性卵巢癌发生发展的影响

卵巢癌是女性生殖器官中常见的恶性肿瘤之一,是女性生殖系统肿瘤中的最大杀手.随着分子遗传学和肿瘤生物学研究的深入发展,基因诊断已成为治疗恶性肿瘤的重要手段.因此,研究卵巢癌的分子遗传学机制进而了解其生物学效应对卵巢癌的发生发展、治疗及预后等方面有重要意义.大量临床病理学和分子遗传学实验证明ERK1/2通路异常活动与低级浆液性卵巢癌的发生发展关系密切.文章将针对ERK1/2通路的异常持续活化(KRAS或BRAF突变次级效应)与低级浆液性卵巢癌发生发展的关联性研究作一简要综述.     

HMGB1-mediated autophagy modulates sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to oxaliplatin via MEK/ERK signaling pathway

In the present study, we examined the mechanisms of oxaliplatin-induced drug resistance in human colorectal cancer cell lines HT29 and HCT116. Our results demonstrate a significant autophagy expression in CRC cells after an oxaliplatin treatment. Administration of oxaliplatin to human CRC cells significantly enhanced the expression of HMGB1, which regulated the autophagy response and negatively regulate the cell apoptosis. Moreover, a decreased oxaliplatin -induced autophagy response and an increased apoptosis level were detected in stable CRC cells harboring HMGB1 shRNA. Then we noted that HMGB1 significantly induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/Extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) phosphorylation. Taken together, these data suggest that HMGB1-mediated autophagy modulates sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to oxaliplatin via MEK/ERK signaling pathway.     

PI3K/AKT信号通路相关蛋白在乳腺癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的：研究PI3K/AKT信号转导通路中PTEN、PI3K、AKT蛋白在乳腺癌中的表达及其与疾病发生发展、预后的关系。方法用免疫组化SP法检测45例乳腺癌患者病理组织（观察组）和其中15例患者癌旁正常组织（对照组）中PTEN、PI3K、AKT表达情况,采用单因素回归分析对PTEN、PI3K、AKT蛋白在乳腺癌组织中阳性表达的相关因素进行分析。结果 PI3K、AKT在乳腺癌中的表达率分别为73.3%、75.5%,高于癌旁正常乳腺组织的33.3%、40%,差异具有统计学意义（P﹤0.05）;PTEN在乳腺癌中表达率为22.2%,低于癌旁正常乳腺组织的53.3%,但差异无统计学意义（P﹥0.05）;单因素回归分析结果显示,患者发病年龄对PTEN、PI3K、AKT在乳腺癌组织中阳性表达无关（P﹥0.05）;组织学分级、临床分期、存在淋巴结转移是PTEN、PI3K、AKT在乳腺癌组织中的阳性表达的相关因素（P﹤0.05）。结论 PI3K/AKT信号通路可能参与了乳腺癌的发生与发展,PTEN蛋白表达缺失导致AKT、PI3K蛋白的过度表达,PI3K、PTEN、AKT蛋白表达的检测可能有助于预测乳腺癌的预后。     

Endocrine resistance associated with activated ErbB system in breast cancer cells is reversed by inhibiting MAPK or PI3K/Akt signaling pathways

Endocrine therapy resistance is one of the main challenges in the treatment of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer patients. This study showed that two ER+ human breast carcinoma cell lines derived from MCF‐7 (MVLN cells) that have acquired under OH‐Tamoxifen selection two distinct phenotypes of endocrine resistance both displayed constitutive activation of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways. Aberrant expression and activation of the ErbB system (phospho‐EGFR, phospho‐ErbB2, phospho‐ErbB3, over‐expression of ErbB4 and over‐expression of several ErbB ligands) were also observed in the two resistant cell lines, suggesting the existence of an autocrine loop leading to constitutive activation of MAPK and PI3K/Akt survival pathways. The recent clinical use of specific signal transduction inhibitors is one of the most promising therapeutic approaches in breast cancers. The MEK inhibitor PD98059 and the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 were both able to enhance the cytostatic effect of OH‐Tamoxifen or fulvestrant on MVLN sensitive cells. In the two resistant cell lines, inhibition of the MAPK or the PI3K/Akt pathways associated with endocrine therapy was sufficient to reverse OH‐Tamoxifen or fulvestrant resistance. Investigating the effect of a combination of both inhibitors on the reversion of OH‐Tamoxifen and fulvestrant resistance in the two resistant cell lines suggested that, in clinical practice, a strategy combining the two inhibitors would be the best approach to target the different endocrine resistance phenotypes possibly present in a tumor. In conclusion, the combination of MAPK and PI3K inhibitors represents a promising strategy to overcome endocrine therapy resistance in ER+ breast cancer patients.