Inhibition of the PI3K pathway suppresses hormonal secretion and limits growth in pheochromocytoma cells.
BACKGROUND
Operative resection is the only curative treatment for pheochromocytomas. Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway has been shown to be an effective treatment of neuroendocrine (NE) tumors in vitro. We hypothesized that inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway would be a viable strategy to inhibit growth and hormonal secretion in pheochromocytoma cells.


METHODS
Sixteen pheochromocytomas were analyzed for expression of phosphorylated Akt and the NE marker achaete scute complex-like 1 (ASCL1). Pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells were treated with up to 100 microM of the PI3K-specific inhibitor LY294002 for 48 h. Western blot analysis was used to measure phosphorylated Akt, total Akt, ASCL1, chromogranin A (CgA), and markers of apoptosis. Growth was assessed by a methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium (MTT) bromide cellular proliferation assay for six days.


RESULTS
Human pheochromocytomas expressed significant amounts of phosphorylated Akt, and there was a significant correlation between malignant pheochromocytomas and the amount of expressed ASCL1. LY294002 significantly inhibited the PI3K-Akt pathway. Treatment led to a dose-dependent decrease in both ASCL1 and CgA, indicating an alteration in the NE phenotype and hormonal suppression. Treatment decreased cellular proliferation, and cleavage of the apoptotic markers caspase-3 and PARP was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Human pheochromocytoma tumor samples express high levels of phosphorylated Akt. LY294002 effectively inhibits the PI3K-Akt pathway, suppresses NE tumor markers, and decreases cellular proliferation via apoptosis in vitro. Inhibition of the PI3K pathway may represent a new strategy in the treatment of pheochromocytomas.
Adler
Joel T
JT
Endocrine Surgery Research Laboratories, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, H4/722 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA. jtadler@wisc.edu
Hottinger
Daniel G
DG
Kunnimalaiyaan
Muthusamy
M
Chen
Herbert
H
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002867:Chromones / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D002867:Chromones; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009025:Morpholines; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; C085911:2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one