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  • Activation of WNT/β‐catenin...
    Park, Ye‐Lim; Kim, Hwang‐Phill; Cho, Young‐Won; Min, Dong‐Wook; Cheon, Seul‐Ki; Lim, Yoo Joo; Song, Sang‐Hyun; Kim, Sung Jin; Han, Sae‐Won; Park, Kyu Joo; Kim, Tae‐You

    International journal of cancer, 15 January 2019, Letnik: 144, Številka: 2
    Journal Article

    PIK3CA is a frequently mutated gene in cancer, including about ~15 to 20% of colorectal cancers (CRC). PIK3CA mutations lead to activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which plays pivotal roles in tumorigenesis. Here, we investigated the mechanism of resistance of PIK3CA‐mutant CRC cell lines to gedatolisib, a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor. Out of a panel of 29 CRC cell lines, we identified 7 harboring one or more PIK3CA mutations; of these, 5 and 2 were found to be sensitive and resistant to gedatolisib, respectively. Both of the gedatolisib‐resistant cell lines expressed high levels of active glycogen synthase kinase 3‐beta (GSK3β) and harbored the same frameshift mutation (c.465_466insC; H155fs*) in TCF7, which encodes a positive transcriptional regulator of the WNT/β‐catenin signaling pathway. Inhibition of GSK3β activity in gedatolisib‐resistant cells by siRNA‐mediated knockdown or treatment with a GSK3β‐specific inhibitor effectively reduced the activity of molecules downstream of mTOR and also decreased signaling through the WNT/β‐catenin pathway. Notably, GSK3β inhibition rendered the resistant cell lines sensitive to gedatolisib cytotoxicity, both in vitro and in a mouse xenograft model. Taken together, these data demonstrate that aberrant regulation of WNT/β‐catenin signaling and active GSK3β induced by the TCF7 frameshift mutation cause resistance to the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor gedatolisib. Cotreatment with GSK3β inhibitors may be a strategy to overcome the resistance of PIK3CA‐ and TCF7‐mutant CRC to PI3K/mTOR‐targeted therapies. What's new? Mutations in the PI3K/mTOR and WNT/β‐catenin pathways are common in colorectal cancer. Here, in colorectal cancer cells, the authors show that the frameshift mutation H155fs* in transcription factor TCF7 serves a critical role in mediating resistance to the PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor gedatolisib. TCF7 H155fs* maintained mTOR signaling by inducing the active form of glycogen synthase kinase 3‐beta (GSK3β) and aberrant WNT/β‐catenin signaling. The latter conferred resistance to gedatolisib. Co‐treatment with a GSK3β inhibitor increased sensitivity to gedatolisib, a combination that synergistically inhibited colorectal tumor growth in mice. The findings shed light on gedatolisib resistance mechanisms and potential resistance biomarkers.