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Benchmarking effects of mTOR, PI3K, and dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors in hepatocellular and renal cell carcinoma models developing resistance to sunitinib and sorafenib

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Abstract

Purpose

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

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.

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Acknowledgments

Editorial assistance in the preparation of this manuscript was provided by ApotheCom (Yardley, PA, USA) and was funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. This work was supported by Novartis (COMPTOR project), the Foundation Nelia and Amadeo Barleta (FNAB), and the Association d’Aide à la Recherche et à l’Enseignement en Cancérologie (AAREC).

Conflict of interest

  Eric Raymond and Sandrine Faivre are consultants for Novartis, Pfizer, and Bayer. Khemaies Slimane is a Novartis employee.

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Correspondence to Eric Raymond.

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Serova, M., de Gramont, A., Tijeras-Raballand, A. et al. Benchmarking effects of mTOR, PI3K, and dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors in hepatocellular and renal cell carcinoma models developing resistance to sunitinib and sorafenib. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 71, 1297–1307 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-013-2129-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-013-2129-6

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