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Updated: Aug 15, 2025

Modeling Breast Cancer via an Intraductal Injection of Cre-expressing Adenovirus into the Mouse Mammary Gland
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PIK3CAMutations in Breast Cancer Subtypes Other Than HR-Positive/HER2-Negative

Liliana Ascione1,2, Paola Zagami1,2,3, Eleonora Nicolò1,2

  • 1Division of New Drugs and Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milan, Italy.

Journal of Personalized Medicine
|December 29, 2022
PubMed

Insights

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is crucial in cancer. This review explores PIK3CA mutations in breast cancer subtypes beyond hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative, examining PI3K inhibitor efficacy and clinical trials.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is integral to cancer cell growth, proliferation, and survival.
  • PIK3CA mutations are oncogenic drivers of uncontrolled cellular growth.
  • PI3K inhibitors (PI3Ki) target the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway but can cause significant toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and common PIK3CA mutations.
  • To explore the role and detection of PIK3CA mutations in breast cancer subtypes.
  • To summarize evidence and clinical trials of PI3Ki in breast cancer beyond HR+/HER2-.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
  • Analysis of PIK3CA mutation prevalence and detection methods.
  • Compilation of biological and clinical data on PI3Ki in various breast cancer subtypes.

Main Results:

  • Alpelisib is approved for HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer with PIK3CA mutations.
  • PIK3CA mutations are found in triple-negative and HER2+ breast cancer.
  • The efficacy of PI3K inhibition in these other subtypes requires further investigation.

Conclusions:

  • PIK3CA mutations are significant in various breast cancer types.
  • Understanding PIK3CA mutation detection is key for targeted therapy.
  • Further research and clinical trials are needed to establish PI3Ki efficacy in non-HR+/HER2- breast cancers.
Keywords:
HER2 positive breast cancerPI3K inhibitorsPIK3CAtargeted therapytriple negative breast cancer

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