dactolisib and Liver-Neoplasms

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still ranks among the top cancers worldwide with high incidence and mortality. Due to abnormal activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway in HCC, targeting this pathway represents a potential therapeutic strategy. NVP-BEZ235 is a novel dual-targeted ATP-competitive PI3K/mTOR inhibitor that has shown effective antitumor effects. In this study, we found that interleukin-6 (IL-6) was significantly increased after exposure to NVP-BEZ235, and we proposed a treatment in which an anti-IL-6 antibody was combined with NVP-BEZ235 for HCC. In vitro results revealed that targeted inhibition of IL-6 potentiated the antitumor effects of NVP-BEZ235 in HCC cells. The mechanism might be attributed to their synergistic inhibitory activity on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway. Furthermore, an in vivo study demonstrated that combined administration of NVP-BEZ235 and anti-IL-6 Ab reduced HCC tumour load more effectively than either NVP-BEZ235 or anti-IL-6 Ab treatment alone. These findings add guidance value to the analysis of HCC and provide a reference for clinical treatment.

Topics: Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Humans; Imidazoles; Interleukin-6; Liver Neoplasms; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Quinolines; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

To assess AB-BEZ235-NP potential as a radio-sensitizer in hepatocellular carcinoma models.. By comparing hepatocellular carcinoma cell with simple radiation or combined AB-BEZ235-NP therapy, the HCC apoptosis and self-repair level have significant differences in mortality rates and cell migration abilities.. Cell proliferation and DNA damage increased by pretreatment with AB-BEZ235-NP after irradiation; further studies on the repair pathway indicated that AB-BEZ235-NP inhibited the important pathway of DSB repair. Our results further show that AB-BEZ235-NP significantly inhibits the phosphorylation of the canonical protein,

Topics: Antibodies; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Line, Tumor; DNA; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; DNA Repair; Humans; Imidazoles; Liver Neoplasms; Nanoparticles; Quinolines; Radiation Tolerance

Chromosome 1p35-36, which encodes tumor suppressors and mitotic checkpoint control genes, is commonly altered in human malignancies. One gene at this locus, stathmin 1 (STMN1), is involved in cell cycle progression and metastasis. We hypothesized that increased STMN1 expression may play a role in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (pNEN) malignancy. We investigated stathmin copy number variation, mRNA, and protein expression using PCR-Taqman Copy Number Assays, Q-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. A mechanistic role for stathmin in proliferation was assessed in the BON cell line under growth-restrictive conditions and siRNA silencing. Furthermore, its role in PI3K signaling pathway activation was evaluated using pharmacological inhibitors. mRNA (p = 0.0001) and protein (p < 0.05) were overexpressed in pNENs. Expression was associated with pNEN tumor extension (p < 0.05), size (p < 0.01), and Ki67 expression (p < 0.01). Serum depletion decreased Ki67 expression (p < 0.01) as well as Ser38 phosphorylation (p < 0.05) in BON cells. STMN1 knockdown (siRNA) decreased proliferation (p < 0.05), and PI3K inhibitors directly inhibited proliferation via stathmin inactivation (dephosphorylation p < 0.01). We identified that stathmin was overexpressed and associated with pathological parameters in pancreatic NENs. We postulate that STMN1 overexpression and phosphorylation result in a loss of cell cycle mitotic checkpoint control and may render tumors amenable to PI3K inhibitory therapy.

Topics: Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; DNA Copy Number Variations; Gene Expression; Humans; Imidazoles; Liver Neoplasms; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; Phosphorylation; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Quinolines; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Stathmin

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and their receptor (EGFR) play an important role in the development of cancer proliferation, and metastasis, although the mechanism remains unclear. The present study aimed at investigating the role of EGF-EGFR signalling pathway in the development of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) inflammatory environment. Gene profiles of inflammatory cytokines from HCC were measured. Cell bio-behaviours of HCC with low or high metastasis were detected by the live cell monitoring system. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK8. The protein level of CXCL5 and CXCL8 was measured by ELISA. The phosphorylation of PI3K, ERK, MAPK was measured by western blot. EGF significantly induced cell proliferation in HepG2 cells, but not in HCCLM3 cells. EGF prompted the cell movement in both HepG2 and HCCLM3 and regulated the production of CXCL5 and CXCL8 from HCC, which were inhibited by EGFR inhibitor, Erk inhibitor (U0126), or PI3K inhibitors (BEZ-235 and SHBM1009). HCC proliferation, metastasis and production of inflammatory cytokines were regulated via EGF-EGFR signal pathways. CXCL5 could interact with CXCL8, possibly by CXCR2 or the cross-talk between CXCR2 and EGFR. EGF-EGFR signaling pathway can be the potential target of therapies for HCC.

Topics: Butadienes; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Chemokine CXCL5; Enzyme Inhibitors; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Imidazoles; Inflammation; Interleukin-8; Liver Neoplasms; Nitriles; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; Phosphorylation; Quinolines; Receptor Cross-Talk; Receptors, Interleukin-8B; Signal Transduction; Tumor Microenvironment

To explore whether combining inhibitors that target the insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR)/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway (vertical blockade) can improve treatment efficacy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).. HCC cell lines (including Hep3B, Huh7, and PLC5) and HUVECs (human umbilical venous endothelial cells) were tested. The molecular targeting therapy agents tested included NVP-AEW541 (IGFR kinase inhibitor), MK2206 (Akt inhibitor), BEZ235 (PI3K/mTOR inhibitor), and RAD001 (mTOR inhibitor). Potential synergistic antitumor effects were tested by median dose-effect analysis in vitro and by xenograft HCC models. Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry (sub-G1 fraction analysis) and Western blotting. The activities of pertinent signaling pathways and expression of apoptosis-related proteins were measured by Western blotting.. Vertical blockade induced a more sustained inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling activities in all the HCC cells and HUVEC tested. Synergistic apoptosis-inducing effects, however, varied among different cell lines and drug combinations and were most prominent when NVP-AEW541 was combined with MK2206. Using an apoptosis array, we identified survivin as a potential downstream mediator. Over-expression of survivin in HCC cells abolished the anti-tumor synergy between NVP-AEW541 and MK2206, whereas knockdown of survivin improved the anti-tumor effects of all drug combinations tested. In vivo by xenograft studies confirmed the anti-tumor synergy between NVP-AEW541 and MK2206 and exhibited acceptable toxicity profiles.. Vertical blockade of the IGFR/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway has promising anti-tumor activity for HCC. Survivin expression may serve as a biomarker to predict treatment efficacy.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Apoptosis; Biomarkers, Tumor; Blotting, Western; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Drug Synergism; Enzyme Inhibitors; Everolimus; Flow Cytometry; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring; Humans; Imidazoles; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Pyrimidines; Pyrroles; Quinolines; Receptors, Somatomedin; Signal Transduction; Sirolimus; Survivin; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

To evaluate first-generation rapamycin analogs (everolimus, temsirolimus, and rapamycin) and second-generation drugs inhibiting mTOR kinase (AZD-8055), PI3K (BKM-120) or both (BEZ-235 and GDC-0980) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells characterized for acquired resistance to sorafenib or sunitinib.. Anti-proliferative (MTT assay) and cell signaling (Western blot) effects of rapamycin analogs (1-20 μM) and second-generation drugs (0.03-20.0 μM) were assessed in human HCC SK-HEP1, RCC 786-0, and sorafenib- (SK-Sora) or sunitinib-resistant (786-Suni) cells.. In SK-HEP1 cells displaying high PTEN and Bcl2 expression, rapamycin analogs had poor anti-proliferative effects. However, SK-Sora cells were more sensitive to rapamycin analogs (≥1 μM) than SK-HEP1 cells. In 786-0 cells, lacking PTEN and Bcl2 expression, ≥1 μM rapamycin analogs blocked mTORC1 signaling, transiently activated Akt, and inhibited cell proliferation. Protracted sunitinib exposure in 786-Suni cells yielded an increase in p27 expression and a decreased sensitivity to rapamycin analogs, although mTORC1 function could be inhibited with rapamycin analogs. Second-generation drugs induced more potent growth inhibition than rapamycin analogs at concentrations >0.03 μM in parental cells, SK-Sora, and 786-Suni cells. Growth inhibitory concentrations of these new drugs also blocked mTORC1 downstream targets.. Rapamycin analogs inhibited mTORC1 downstream targets and yielded anti-proliferative effects in HCC and RCC cells. Second-generation drugs also appeared to be potent inhibitors of mTORC1 signaling; however, they appeared to be far more potent in inhibiting cellular proliferation in parental HCC and RCC cells and in cells developing resistance to sorafenib or sunitinib.

Topics: Aminopyridines; Antineoplastic Agents; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Everolimus; Humans; Imidazoles; Indoles; Kidney Neoplasms; Liver Neoplasms; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1; Morpholines; Multiprotein Complexes; Niacinamide; Phenylurea Compounds; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; Pyrimidines; Pyrroles; Quinolines; Signal Transduction; Sirolimus; Sorafenib; Sunitinib; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most deadly cancers worldwide with only few therapeutic options for patients with advanced disease. There is growing evidence indicating that activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway plays an important role in HCC and therefore represents a promising target for novel therapeutic approaches. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the antitumour activity of the mTOR inhibitor RAD001, the dual mTOR and PI3-kinase inhibitor BEZ235 and the PI3-kinase inhibitor BKM120 in vitro and in vivo.. The antitumour effects of RAD001, BEZ235 and BKM120 were analysed in seven hepatoma cell lines as mono and combination therapy with Doxorubicin, Cisplatin, Irinotecan or 5-Flourouracil in vitro and in xenografts. Cell-cycle progression, apoptosis, and autophagy were analysed. Furthermore, effects on mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis were assessed.. Treatment with RAD001, BEZ235 and BKM120 markedly reduced tumour cell viability. Combination of PI3K inhibitors with chemotherapy was most effective. RAD001, BEZ235 and BKM120 reduced tumour growth mainly by inhibiting cell-cycle progression rather than by inducing apoptosis. Interestingly, the antitumour effects were strongly associated with a reduction of mitochondrial respiration. BKM120, which exhibited the strongest antiproliferative effect, most strongly impaired oxidative phosphorylation compared with the other drugs.. In this study, BKM120 showed the strongest antitumour activity. Our findings suggest impairment of mitochondrial function as a relevant mechanism of BKM120. Moreover, combination of PI3K and mTOR inhibitors with cytotoxic agents could be promising option for non-cirrhotic HCC patients.

Topics: Aminopyridines; Analysis of Variance; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Camptothecin; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Cycle; Cell Line; Cell Respiration; Cisplatin; Doxorubicin; Everolimus; Humans; Imidazoles; Immunoblotting; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Irinotecan; Liver Neoplasms; Morpholines; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; Quinolines; Sirolimus; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

Dysregulation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling has been found in several types of human cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NVP-BEZ235 is a novel, orally bioavailable dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor that has exhibited promising activity against HCC in preclinical models. Autophagy is a cellular lysosomal degradation pathway essential for the regulation of cell survival and death to maintain homeostasis. This process is negatively regulated by mTOR signaling and often counteracts the efficacy of certain cancer therapeutic agents. In this study, we explored the role of autophagy in apoptosis induced by NVP-BEZ235 in two HCC cell lines, Hep3B and PLC/PRF/5, and identified the mechanism of combinatorial treatment. NVP-BEZ235 was effective in inhibiting the growth of the two HCC cell lines possibly though induction of apoptosis. NVP-BEZ235 also potently increased the expression of LC3-II and decreased the expression of p62, indicating induction of autophagy. When NVP-BEZ235 was used in combination with Atg5 siRNA or the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA), enhancement of the inhibitory effects on the growth of HCC cells was detected. In addition, enhanced induction of apoptosis was observed in cells exposed to the combination of NVP-BEZ235 and Atg5 siRNA or 3-MA. Thus, induction of autophagy by NVP-BEZ235 may be a survival mechanism that counteracts its anticancer effects. Based on these data, we suggest a strategy to enhance the anticancer efficacy of BEZ235 by blockade of autophagy. Thus, our study provides a rationale for the clinical development of combinations of NVP-BEZ235 and autophagy inhibitors for the treatment of HCC and other malignancies.

Topics: Adenine; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Autophagy-Related Protein 5; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Humans; Imidazoles; Liver Neoplasms; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; Quinolines; RNA Interference; Signal Transduction; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) affects more than half a million people worldwide and is the third most common cause of cancer deaths. Because mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is up-regulated in 50% of HCCs, we compared the effects of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved mTOR-allosteric inhibitor, RAD001, with a new-generation phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/mTOR adenosine triphosphate-site competitive inhibitor, BEZ235. Unexpectedly, the two drugs acted synergistically in inhibiting the proliferation of cultured HCC cells. The synergistic effect closely paralleled eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) dephosphorylation, which is implicated in the suppression of tumor cell proliferation. In a mouse model approximating human HCC, the drugs in combination, but not singly, induced a marked regression in tumor burden. However, in the tumor, BEZ235 alone was as effective as the combination in inhibiting 4E-BP1 phosphorylation, which suggests that additional target(s) may also be involved. Microarray analyses revealed a large number of genes that reverted to normal liver tissue expression in mice treated with both drugs, but not either drug alone. These analyses also revealed the down-regulation of autophagy genes in tumors compared to normal liver. Moreover, in HCC patients, altered expression of autophagy genes was associated with poor prognosis. Consistent with these findings, the drug combination had a profound effect on UNC51-like kinase 1 (ULK1) dephosphorylation and autophagy in culture, independent of 4E-BP1, and in parallel induced tumor mitophagy, a tumor suppressor process in liver. These observations have led to an investigator-initiated phase 1B-2 dose escalation trial with RAD001 combined with BEZ235 in patients with HCC and other advanced solid tumors.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Autophagy; Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Everolimus; Humans; Imidazoles; Immunoblotting; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; Quinolines; Sirolimus; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

Dysregulation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway frequently occurs in human tumors, and is therefore considered to be a good molecular target for treatment. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), overexpression of p-Akt and decrease of PTEN expression have been reported. NVP-BEZ235 is a novel dual inhibitor of PI3K and mTOR; however, its effect on HCC has not been documented. Consequently, we investigated the effects of NVP-BEZ235 on the PLC/PRF/5, HLE, JHH7 and HepG2 HCC cell lines in vitro and in vivo. NVP-BEZ235 decreased the levels of p-Akt and p-p70S6K and inhibited cell proliferation in all HCC cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that inhibition of cell proliferation by NVP-BEZ235 was accompanied by G1 arrest in all cell lines, and that NVP-BEZ235 induced apoptosis in PLC/PRF/5 and HLE cells. Tumor growth was suppressed without body weight loss when NVP-BEZ235 was orally administered to JHH-7 tumor-bearing mice for 11 days. These results suggest that NVP-BEZ235 is a potential new candidate for targeted HCC therapy.

Topics: Animals; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Growth Processes; Cell Line, Tumor; Female; Humans; Imidazoles; Liver Neoplasms; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; Quinolines; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Immunodeficient animal models are invaluable tools to investigate the metastatic propensity of human tumours. However residual immune responses, in particular natural killer (NK) cells, severely hamper the traffic and growth of human tumour cells. We studied whether a genetically modified mouse host lacking T, B and NK immunity allowed an improved expression of the metastatic phenotype of malignant human tumours. Metastatic spread of a panel of human sarcoma cell lines was studied in double knockout Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) mice in comparison with NK-depleted nude mice. Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) mice receiving intravenous (i.v.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) human sarcoma cell lines developed extensive multiorgan metastases. Metastatic efficiency in Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) was superior than in nude mice in terms of both metastatic sites and metastasis number. Metastatic growth in Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) mice was faster than that in nude mice, thus allowing an earlier metastasis evaluation. Most human sarcomas metastasised in the liver of Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) mice, a kind of organ preference undetectable in nude mice and specific of sarcomas, as several carcinoma cell lines failed to colonise the liver of Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) mice, independently of their metastatic spread to other sites. In vitro analysis of the molecular mechanisms of liver metastasis of sarcomas implicated liver-produced growth and motility factors, in particular the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis. NVP-BEZ235, a specific inhibitor of downstream signal transduction targeting PI3K and mTOR, strongly inhibited liver metastasis of human sarcoma cells. In conclusion, the Rag2(-/-);gammac(-/-) mouse model allowed the expression of human metastatic phenotypes inapparent in conventional immunodeficient mice and the preclinical testing of appropriate targeted therapies.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Chemotaxis; Culture Media, Conditioned; Disease Models, Animal; DNA-Binding Proteins; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Humans; Imidazoles; Immune Tolerance; Liver Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Neoplasm Transplantation; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; Quinolines; Sarcoma; Transplantation, Heterologous; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays