PI3K-AKT-mTOR and NFκB Pathways in Ovarian Cancer: Implications for Targeted Therapeutics

Alia Ghoneum1, Neveen Said2

  • 1Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA.

Cancers
|July 10, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Ovarian cancer, a lethal malignancy, often involves mutated phosphoinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and nuclear factor-κ light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB) pathways. This review explores their interconnection in ovarian cancer progression.

Area of Science:

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Signaling Pathways

Background:

  • Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in the United States.
  • The phosphoinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is frequently dysregulated in ovarian cancer.
  • The nuclear factor-κ light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB) pathway is also implicated in ovarian cancer pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in ovarian cancer.
  • To investigate the interconnection between the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and NFκB pathways in ovarian cancer.
  • To understand the association of these pathways with advanced disease and poor prognosis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on PI3K/AKT/mTOR and NFκB pathways in ovarian cancer.
  • Analysis of mutation and hyper-activation data for these pathways in ovarian cancer patients.
  • Examination of the relationship between pathway activation, disease grade, stage, and prognosis.

Main Results:

  • The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is highly mutated and/or hyper-activated in a significant proportion of ovarian cancer cases.
  • The NFκB pathway also shows frequent alterations in ovarian cancer.
  • Dysregulation of both pathways is associated with advanced stage, high grade, and poor patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • The PI3K/AKT/mTOR and NFκB pathways represent critical signaling networks in ovarian cancer.
  • Understanding the interplay between these pathways is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
  • Targeting these interconnected pathways may offer new therapeutic strategies for ovarian cancer patients.

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