Management of toxicity to isoform α-specific PI3K inhibitors

S E Nunnery1, I A Mayer1

  • 1Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA.

Insights

PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors are crucial for cancer treatment but cause side effects like hyperglycemia and rash. Proactive management and patient education are key to improving quality of life and treatment efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Alterations in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway are prevalent in various cancers, notably breast cancer (70% of tumors).
  • Hyperactivation of the PI3K/AKT pathway is a common driver in cancer development and progression.
  • PI3K pathway inhibitors represent a targeted therapeutic strategy for cancer control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address the challenge of toxicity associated with PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors.
  • To highlight the impact of side-effects on patient quality of life and treatment efficacy.
  • To propose strategies for proactive management of PI3K inhibitor-related toxicities.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors and their toxicities.
  • Analysis of common on-target and off-target side-effects.
  • Evaluation of management strategies for drug-induced toxicities.

Main Results:

  • PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors commonly cause reversible side-effects including hyperglycemia, rash, stomatitis, diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue.
  • These toxicities frequently lead to dose reductions, treatment delays, and discontinuation, impairing treatment efficacy and quality of life.
  • Most side-effects are manageable with early intervention due to the short half-life of these drugs.

Conclusions:

  • An interdisciplinary and proactive approach is essential for managing patients on PI3K pathway inhibitors.
  • Comprehensive patient education, frequent monitoring, and early intervention are crucial for mitigating side-effects.
  • Prophylactic strategies should be integrated into patient management to optimize treatment outcomes and patient well-being.

Related Concept Videos

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a...
5.1K
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway01:20

The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as  SH2...
11.6K
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers01:26

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are two critical categories of drugs employed in the treatment of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). PAH is a disease that causes high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, resulting in chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
386
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors01:23

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) is a serine protease widely distributed in the body. It's involved in the inactivation of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which are crucial for insulin regulation. DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), linagliptin (Tradjenta), alogliptin (Nesina), and vildagliptin (Galvus), help increase the proportion of active GLP-1, enhancing insulin secretion. These inhibitors work by competitively binding to DPP-4. This binding causes a...
508
Phosphoinositides and PIPs01:42

Phosphoinositides and PIPs

Phosphoinositides are a group of phospholipids containing a glycerol backbone with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate attached to a myoinositol sugar ring. The inositol head group extends into the cytoplasm, where it is modified by adding phosphate groups to form phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs.
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
10.0K
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists01:23

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists

Prostacyclin receptor agonists are a class of therapeutic agents integral to managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These drugs operate by mimicking the action of prostaglandin I2, or PGI2, a naturally occurring compound in the body.
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
393