Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P42345 (mTOR)
 26,049 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Glioma has been considered resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Recently, concomitant and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy with temozolomide has become the standard treatment for newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Conversely (neo-)adjuvant PCV (procarbazine, lomustine, vincristine) failed to improve survival in the more chemoresponsive tumor entities of anaplastic oligoastrocytoma and oligodendroglioma. Preclinical investigations suggest synergism or additivity of radiotherapy and temozolomide in glioma cell lines. Although the relative contribution of the concomitant and the adjuvant chemotherapy, respectively, cannot be assessed, the early introduction of chemotherapy and the simultaneous administration with radiotherapy appear to be key for the improvement of outcome. Epigenetic inactivation of the DNA repair enzyme methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) seems to be the strongest predictive marker for outcome in patients treated with alkylating agent chemotherapy. Patients whose tumors do not have MGMT promoter methylation are less likely to benefit from the addition of temozolomide chemotherapy and require alternative treatment strategies. The predictive value of MGMT gene promoter methylation is being validated in ongoing trials aiming at overcoming this resistance by a dose-dense continuous temozolomide administration or in combination with MGMT inhibitors. Understanding of molecular mechanisms allows for rational targeting of specific pathways of repair, signaling, and angiogenesis. The addition of tyrosine kinase inhibitors vatalanib (PTK787) and vandetinib (ZD6474), the integrin inhibitor cilengitide, the monoclonal antibodies bevacizumab and cetuximab, the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors temsirolimus and everolimus, and the protein kinase C inhibitor enzastaurin, among other agents, are in clinical investigation, building on the established chemoradiotherapy regimen for newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
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PMID:Chemoradiotherapy in malignant glioma: standard of care and future directions. 1782 63

mTORC2 is a multimeric kinase composed of the mammalian target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR), mLST8, mSin1, and rictor. The complex is insensitive to acute rapamycin exposure and has shown functions in controlling cell growth and actin cytoskeletal assembly. mTORC2 has recently been shown to phosphorylate and activate Akt. Because approximately 70% of gliomas harbor high levels of activated Akt, we investigated whether mTORC2 activity was elevated in gliomas. In this study, we found that mTORC2 activity was elevated in glioma cell lines as well as in primary tumor cells as compared with normal brain tissue (P < 0.05). Moreover, we found that rictor protein and mRNA levels were also elevated and correlated with increased mTORC2 activity. Overexpression of rictor in cell lines led to increased mTORC2 assembly and activity. These lines exhibited increased anchorage-independent growth in soft agar, increased S-phase cell cycle distribution, increased motility, and elevated integrin beta(1) and beta(3) expression. In contrast, small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of rictor inhibited these oncogenic activities. Protein kinase C alpha (PKC alpha) activity was shown to be elevated in rictor-overexpressing lines but reduced in rictor-knockdown clones, consistent with the known regulation of actin organization by mTORC2 via PKC alpha. Xenograft studies using these cell lines also supported a role for increased mTORC2 activity in tumorigenesis and enhanced tumor growth. In summary, these data suggest that mTORC2 is hyperactivated in gliomas and functions in promoting tumor cell proliferation and invasive potential due to increased complex formation as a result of the overexpression of rictor.
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PMID:mTORC2 activity is elevated in gliomas and promotes growth and cell motility via overexpression of rictor. 1808 1

Mouse models of human cancers afford unique opportunities to evaluate novel therapies in preclinical trials. For this purpose, we analyzed three genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models of low-grade glioma resulting from either inactivation of the neurofibromatosis-1 (Nf1) tumor suppressor gene or constitutive activation of KRas in glial cells. Based on tumor proliferation, location, and penetrance, we selected one of these Nf1 GEM models for preclinical drug evaluation. After detection of an optic glioma by manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, we randomized mice to either treatment or control groups. We first validated the Nf1 optic glioma model using conventional single-agent chemotherapy (temozolomide) currently used for children with low-grade glioma and showed that treatment resulted in decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of tumor cells in vivo as well as reduced tumor volume. Because neurofibromin negatively regulates mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, we showed that pharmacologic mTOR inhibition in vivo led to decreased tumor cell proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion associated with a decrease in tumor volume. Interestingly, no additive effect of combined rapamycin and temozolomide treatment was observed. Lastly, to determine the effect of these therapies on the normal brain, we showed that treatments that affect tumor cell proliferation or apoptosis did not have a significant effect on the proliferation of progenitor cells within brain germinal zones. Collectively, these findings suggest that this Nf1 optic glioma model may be a potential preclinical benchmark for identifying novel therapies that have a high likelihood of success in human clinical trials.
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PMID:Preclinical cancer therapy in a mouse model of neurofibromatosis-1 optic glioma. 1831 17

Malignant gliomas have retained their dismal prognosis despite aggressive multimodal conventional therapeutic approaches, illustrating the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Recent advances in the cellular and molecular biology of gliomas have enhanced our understanding of the role of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) and RTK-mediated signal transduction pathways in tumor initiation, maintenance, angiogenesis, and vascular proliferation. Special attention has been focused on targets such as epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR), and on pathways such as the Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein (MAP)-kinase and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. Novel targeted drugs known as small molecule inhibitors have been shown to modify the activity of these receptors and signaling pathways. Thus far, however, small molecule RTK inhibitor development has concentrated on a few RTK only, and drug activity has been comprehensively evaluated only in a limited number of different malignancies. One of the limiting factors for novel drug design and development is the incomplete knowledge of RTK functions in malignant glioma. This review summarizes current basic and clinical knowledge on the role of RTK in malignant glioma and on their importance as targets for new forms of therapy.
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PMID:Receptor tyrosine kinases as therapeutic targets in malignant glioma. 1847 93

We describe diffuse glioma-like infiltrates in excised tubers in five out of forty Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) patients undergoing excision of a tuber at our institution within the last 10 years. All patients presented with refractory seizures. Resection specimens from four patients had the pathognomonic histologic features of neuroglial hamartomas (tubers) and in one case there was cortical microdysgenesis lacking cells typical of TSC. All lesions were associated with an infiltrate of atypical, mostly elongate, glioma-like small cells, which were immunoreactive for GFAP in three, and pS6 (a marker for activity of the mTOR pathway), in two cases. MAP-2 and CD34, were negative and MIB-1 (Ki67) immunostains ranged from <1-21%. Array-based comparative genomic hybridization revealed that these proliferative phenomena were associated with 21 different copy number aberrations in comparison with a tuber without atypical infiltrates. Postoperatively (follow-up period ranging from 8 to 34 months) none of the patients have any evidence of a glioma. We report that tubers resected for treatment of seizures are sometimes associated with glioma-like lesions, which are indistinguishable from infiltrating gliomas by morphology and immunohistochemistry. Genomic analysis with SNP arrays revealed copy number changes which may be associated with the pathogenesis of such infiltrates.
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PMID:Glioma-like proliferation within tissues excised as tubers in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. 1858 Nov 25

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a nutrient and ATP sensor suggested to play an important role in tumorigenesis, particularly in the setting of PTEN loss or activated Akt/PKB. Of mTOR's two known effectors, eIF4E has been implicated in tumorigenesis, whereas the role of S6 kinase (S6K1) in transformation is less understood. To assess the contribution of S6K1 to the transformed phenotype, we pharmacologically and genetically manipulated the mTOR-S6K pathway in glioma cells and monitored its effects on growth in soft agar, a hallmark of cellular transformation, and also assessed in vivo intracranial growth. Anchorage-independent growth by HRas(V12)-transformed human astrocytes as well as by U251 and U373 human glioma cells was inhibited by pharmacologic mTOR inhibition. Similarly, short hairpin RNA-mediated suppression of mTOR also reduced anchorage-independent growth of glioma cell lines. Expression of wild-type eIF4E in rapamycin-treated E6/E7/hTert/HRas(V12) and U373 cells failed to rescue colony formation, although expression of wild-type S6K1 or rapamycin-resistant S6K1 in rapamycin-treated U373 and U251 provided partial rescue. Consistent with the latter observation, small interfering RNA-mediated suppression of S6K1 in HRas(V12)-transformed human astrocytes, U251, and U373 cells resulted in a significant loss of anchorage-independent growth. Furthermore, we found that in vivo short hairpin RNA-mediated suppression of S6K1 in HRas(V12)-transformed human astrocytes reduced intracranial tumor size, in association with reduced tumor levels of phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6. These findings implicate the mTOR-S6K pathway as a critical mediator of glial cell transformation.
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PMID:S6K1 plays a key role in glial transformation. 1870 74

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder associated with cortical malformations (cortical tubers) and the development of glial tumors (subependymal giant-cell tumors, SGCTs). Expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) subtypes is developmentally regulated and several studies suggest an involvement of mGluR-mediated glutamate signaling in the regulation of proliferation and survival of neural stem-progenitor cells, as well as in the control of tumor growth. In the present study, we have investigated the expression and cell-specific distribution of group I (mGluR1, mGluR5), group II (mGluR2/3) and group III (mGluR4 and mGluR8) mGluR subtypes in human TSC specimens of both cortical tubers and SGCTs, using immunocytochemistry. Strong group I mGluR immunoreactivity (IR) was observed in the large majority of TSC specimens in dysplastic neurons and in giant cells within cortical tubers, as well as in tumor cells within SGCTs. In particular mGluR5 appeared to be most frequently expressed, whereas mGluR1alpha was detected in a subpopulation of neurons and giant cells. Cells expressing mGluR1alpha and mGluR5, demonstrate IR for phospho-S6 ribosomal protein (PS6), which is a marker of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway activation. Group II and particularly group III mGluR IR was less frequently observed than group I mGluRs in dysplastic neurons and giant cells of tubers and tumor cells of SGCTs. Reactive astrocytes were mainly stained with mGluR5 and mGluR2/3. These findings expand our knowledge concerning the cellular phenotype in cortical tubers and in SGCTs and highlight the role of group I mGluRs as important mediators of glutamate signaling in TSC brain lesions. Individual mGluR subtypes may represent potential pharmacological targets for the treatment of the neurological manifestations associated with TSC brain lesions.
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PMID:Cellular localization of metabotropic glutamate receptors in cortical tubers and subependymal giant cell tumors of tuberous sclerosis complex. 1870 78

Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a tumor suppressor that antagonizes the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR pathway by functioning as a lipid phosphatase. This ubiquitous and evolutionarily conserved signaling cascade influences numerous functions including cell growth, survival, proliferation, migration and metabolism. Inherited mutations in PTEN cause pleiotropic effects including cancer predisposition as well as a range of neurological abnormalities revealing specialized roles for PTEN in nervous system development and maintenance. Somatic mutations in PTEN occur frequently as late events in sporadic brain tumors. Mouse models based on Pten deletion in the brain have provided insights into the normal functions of Pten in the nervous system as well as the initiation and progression of gliomas. Compromised PTEN function may contribute to gliomagenesis through disrupted regulation of proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, stem cell self-renewal and regulation of other tumor suppressor pathways such as p53. Clinical findings in high-grade glioma suggest that PTEN gene alterations are associated with poor prognosis and may influence response to specific therapies. Emerging research using specific pharmacological inhibitors of the PI3K pathway may provide novel therapeutic options for the treatment of PTEN-deficient tumors.
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PMID:PTEN signaling in brain: neuropathology and tumorigenesis. 1879 77

Amplification of the gene encoding the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) occurs commonly in glioblastoma, leading to activation of downstream kinases including phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K), Akt, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Here, we show that phosphorylation of mTOR and its downstream substrate rpS6 (ribosomal protein S6) are robust biomarkers for the antiproliferative effect of EGFR inhibitors. Inhibition of EGFR signaling correlated with decreased abundance of phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR) and rpS6 (p-rpS6) in cells wild type for the gene encoding PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosome 10), a negative regulator of PI3K. In contrast, inhibition of EGFR signaling failed to affect p-mTOR or p-rpS6 in cells mutant for PTEN, which are resistant to EGFR inhibitors. Although the abundance of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) decreased in response to inhibition of EGFR signaling, Akt was dispensable for signaling between EGFR and mTOR. We identified an Akt-independent pathway linking EGFR to mTOR that was critically dependent on protein kinase C (PKC). Consistent with these observations, the abundance of EGFR generally correlated with phosphorylation of rpS6 and PKC in primary human glioblastoma tumors, and correlated poorly with phosphorylation of Akt. Inhibition of PKC led to decreased viability of glioma cells regardless of PTEN or EGFR status, suggesting that PKC inhibitors should be tested in glioma. These findings underline the importance of signaling between EGFR and mTOR in glioma, identify PKCalpha as essential to this network, and question the necessity of Akt as a critical intermediate coupling EGFR and mTOR in glioma.
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PMID:EGFR signals to mTOR through PKC and independently of Akt in glioma. 1917 18

Gliomas are primary brain tumors with poor prognosis that exhibit frequent abnormalities in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 kinase) signaling. We investigated the molecular mechanism of action of the isoform-selective class I PI3 kinase and mTOR inhibitor PI-103 in human glioma cells. The potent inhibitory effects of PI-103 on the PI3 kinase pathway were quantified. PI-103 and the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin both inhibited ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation but there were clear differences in the response of upstream components of the PI3 kinase pathway, such as phosphorylation of Thr(308)-AKT, that were inhibited by PI-103 but not rapamycin. Gene expression profiling identified altered expression of genes encoding regulators of the cell cycle and cholesterol metabolism, and genes modulated by insulin or IGF1 signaling, rapamycin treatment or nutrient starvation. PI-103 decreased expression of positive regulators of G(1)/S phase progression and increased expression of the negative cell cycle regulator p27(kip1). A reversible PI-103-mediated G(1) cell cycle arrest occurred without significant apoptosis, consistent with the altered gene expression detected. PI-103 induced vacuolation and processing of LC-3i to LC-3ii, which are features of an autophagic response. In contrast to PI-103, LY294002 and PI-387 induced apoptosis, indicative of likely off-target effects. PI-103 interacted synergistically or additively with cytotoxic agents used in the treatment of glioma, namely vincristine, BCNU and temozolomide. Compared to individual treatments, the combination of PI-103 with temozolomide significantly improved the response of U87MG human glioma xenografts. Our results support the therapeutic potential for PI3 kinase inhibitors with a PI-103-like profile as therapeutic agents for the treatment of glioma.
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PMID:Molecular pharmacology of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibition in human glioma. 1916 51


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