AKT2 is frequently upregulated in HER-2/neu-positive breast cancers and may contribute to tumor aggressiveness by enhancing cell survival |
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Authors: | Bacus Sarah S Altomare Deborah A Lyass Ljuba Chin Dot Mon Farrell Michael P Gurova Katerina Gudkov Andrei Testa Joseph R |
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Affiliation: | Ventana Medical Systems, Inc./QDL, 610 Oakmont Lane, Westmont, Illinois, IL 60559, USA. sbacus@ventanamed.com |
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Abstract: | Amplification or overexpression of the HER-2/neu gene in breast cancers is associated with aggressive behavior and resistance to therapeutic regimens. The molecular mechanisms that contribute to therapeutic resistance/survival of HER-2/neu-overexpressing tumor cells have not been well defined. To determine if phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT signaling contributes to cell survival in HER-2/neu-positive breast cancers, we performed immunohistochemical analyses to evaluate expression of HER-2/neu and AKT in a series of 52 breast carcinomas. Elevated expression of HER-2/neu was found to correlate with overexpression of AKT2 protein and activation of AKT kinase. HER-2/neu-overexpressing breast cancer cell lines were resistant to apoptosis induced by UV treatment and hypoxia, which was suppressed in the presence of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors LY294002 and wortmannin, indicating a link between AKT activation and stress resistance in HER-2/neu-overexpressing cells. These observations suggest that AKT signaling augments resistance to stress-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells overexpressing HER-2/neu. |
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