The PTEN/PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in cancer, therapeutic implications.
PTEN/PI3K/AKT constitutes an important pathway regulating the signaling of multiple biological processes such as apoptosis, metabolism, cell proliferation and cell growth. PTEN is a dual protein/lipid phosphatase which main substrate is the phosphatidyl-inositol,3,4,5 triphosphate (PIP3), the product of PI3K. Increase in PIP3 recruits AKT to the membrane where it is activated by other kinases also dependent on PIP3. Many components of this pathway have been described as causal forces in cancer. PTEN activity is lost by mutations, deletions or promoter methylation silencing at high frequency in many primary and metastatic human cancers. Germ line mutations of PTEN are found in several familial cancer predisposition syndromes. Activating mutations which have been reported for PI3K and AKT, in tumours are able to confer tumourigenic properties in several cellular systems. Additionally, the binding of PI3K to oncogenic ras is essential for the transforming properties of ras. In summary, the data strongly support the view of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway as an important target for drug discovery.
Carnero
Amancio
A
Experimental Therapeutics Programme, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), C/Melchor Fernandez Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain. acarnero@cnio.es
Blanco-Aparicio
Carmen
C
Renner
Oliver
O
Link
Wolfgang
W
Leal
Juan F M
JF
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015195:Drug Design; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018129:Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D010766:Phosphorylation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D018129:Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D018631:ras Proteins; C060974:phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate