Phosphatidylinositol ether lipid analogues induce AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent death in LKB1-mutant non small cell lung cancer cells.
Loss of function of the tumor suppressor LKB1 occurs in 30% to 50% of lung adenocarcinomas. Because LKB1 activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which can negatively regulate mTOR, AMPK activation might be desirable for cancer therapy. However, no known compounds activate AMPK independently of LKB1 in vivo, and the usefulness of activating AMPK in LKB1-mutant cancers is unknown. Here, we show that lipid-based Akt inhibitors, phosphatidylinositol ether lipid analogues (PIA), activate AMPK independently of LKB1. PIAs activated AMPK in LKB1-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines with similar concentration dependence as that required to inhibit Akt. However, AMPK activation was independent of Akt inhibition. AMPK activation was a major mechanism of mTOR inhibition. To assess whether another kinase capable of activating AMPK, CaMKK beta, contributed to PIA-induced AMPK activation, we used an inhibitor of CaMKK, STO-609. STO-609 inhibited PIA-induced AMPK activation in LKB1-mutant NSCLC cells, and delayed AMPK activation in wild-type LKB1 NSCLC cells. In addition, AMPK activation was not observed in NSCLC cells with mutant CaMKK beta, suggesting that CaMKK beta contributes to PIA-induced AMPK activation in cells. AMPK activation promoted PIA-induced cytotoxicity because PIAs were less cytotoxic in AMPKalpha-/- murine embryonic fibroblasts or LKB1-mutant NSCLC cells transfected with mutant AMPK. This mechanism was also relevant in vivo. Treatment of LKB1-mutant NSCLC xenografts with PIA decreased tumor volume by approximately 50% and activated AMPK. These studies show that PIAs recapitulate the activity of two tumor suppressors (PTEN and LKB1) that converge on mTOR. Moreover, they suggest that PIAs might have utility in the treatment of LKB1-mutant lung adenocarcinomas.
Memmott
Regan M
RM
Medical Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Gills
Joell J
JJ
Hollingshead
Melinda
M
Powers
Margaret C
MC
Chen
Zhiping
Z
Kemp
Bruce
B
Kozikowski
Alan
A
Dennis
Phillip A
PA
D000091162:AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D054737:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D004987:Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018129:Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
D004987:Ethers; D008055:Lipids; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D018129:Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C109790:STK11 protein, human; D054737:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000091162:AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases