title: A novel AKT3 mutation in melanoma tumours and cell lines.
abstract: Recently, a rare activating mutation of AKT1 (E17K) has been reported in breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancers. However, analogous activating mutations in AKT2 or AKT3 have not been identified in any cancer lineage. To determine the prevalence of AKT E17K mutations in melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, we analysed 137 human melanoma specimens and 65 human melanoma cell lines for the previously described activating mutation of AKT1, and for analogous mutations in AKT2 and AKT3. We identified a single AKT1 E17K mutation. Remarkably, a previously unidentified AKT3 E17K mutation was detected in two melanomas (from one patient) as well as two cell lines. The AKT3 E17K mutation results in activation of AKT when expressed in human melanoma cells. This represents the first report of AKT mutations in melanoma, and the initial identification of an AKT3 mutation in any human cancer lineage. We have also identified the first known human cell lines with naturally occurring AKT E17K mutations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mdavies@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stemke-Hale
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tellez
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Calderone
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: A J F
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lazar
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gershenwald
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000235:genetics*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C491754:AKT3 protein, human; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt