TORC1 is essential for NF1-associated malignancies.
Inactivating mutations in NF1 underlie the prevalent familial cancer syndrome neurofibromatosis type 1 [1]. The NF1-encoded protein is a Ras GTPase-activating protein (RasGAP) [2]. Accordingly, Ras is aberrantly activated in NF1-deficient tumors; however, it is unknown which effector pathways critically function in tumor development. Here we provide in vivo evidence that TORC1/mTOR activity is essential for tumorigenesis. Specifically, we show that the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin potently suppresses the growth of aggressive NF1-associated malignancies in a genetically engineered murine model. However, in these tumors rapamycin does not function via mechanisms generally assumed to mediate tumor suppression, including inhibition of HIF-1alpha and indirect suppression of AKT, but does suppress the mTOR target Cyclin D1 [3]. These results demonstrate that mTOR inhibitors may be an effective targeted therapy for this commonly untreatable malignancy. Moreover, they indicate that mTOR inhibitors do not suppress all tumor types via the same mechanism, suggesting that current biomarkers that rely on HIF-1alpha suppression may not be informative for all cancers. Finally, our results reveal important differences between the effects of mTOR inhibition on the microvasculature in genetically engineered versus xenograft models and indicate that the former may be required for effective preclinical screening with this class of inhibitors.
Johannessen
Cory M
CM
Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Ludwig Center at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Johnson
Bryan W
BW
Williams
Sybil M Genther
SM
Chan
Annie W
AW
Reczek
Elizabeth E
EE
Lynch
Ryan C
RC
Rioth
Matthew J
MJ
McClatchey
Andrea
A
Ryeom
Sandra
S
Cichowski
Karen
K
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D056741:Cyclin D; D016213:Cyclins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D016514:Genes, Neurofibromatosis 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
C519509:Crtc1 protein, mouse; D056741:Cyclin D; D016213:Cyclins; C497443:Hif1a protein, mouse; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D011494:Protein Kinases; C546843:mTOR protein, mouse; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D020123:Sirolimus