Targeted molecular therapy of the PI3K pathway: Therapeutic significance of PI3K subunit targeting in colorectal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway promotes cancer cell proliferation and survival. The authors determined the pattern of distribution of PI3K pathway components (ie, the p85α regulatory subunit, p110α catalytic subunit, Akt1, Akt2, and the tumor suppressor PTEN) in human colorectal cancer. In addition, inhibition of in vitro proliferation and in vivo liver metastasis by p85α or p110α siRNA treatment was analyzed. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules suppress expression of target genes and may have therapeutic applications as target-specific therapies for cancer. Therefore, the purpose of this study was 2-fold: 1) to analyze the distribution pattern of PI3K pathway components in human normal colorectal cancers, and 2) to determine whether targeted inhibition of PI3K inhibits colon cancer growth in vitro and suppresses metastatic growth in vivo. METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on colorectal adenocarcinomas and adjacent normal mucosa for PI3K pathway components, including p85α, p110α, Akt1, Akt2, and the tumor suppressor PTEN, which inhibits PI3K. HT29 and KM20 human colon cancer cells were treated with siRNA directed to p85α or p110α, and cell viability and apoptosis assessed. HT29 cells, transfected with a plasmid containing green fluorescent protein (GFP), were injected into the spleen of athymic nude mice to establish liver metastases; mice were randomized to receive either nontargeting control (NTC), p85α or p110α siRNA. RESULTS: PI3K pathway components p85α and Akt2 were highly expressed in glandular elements of colon cancers, with a correlation between staining intensity and clinical stage; PTEN expression was decreased in the colon cancers of all stages. PI3K-specific siRNA treatment decreased cell viability in vitro and suppressed metastatic tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Selective targeting of PI3K pathway components may enhance the effects of standard chemotherapeutic agents and provide novel adjuvant treatment of selected colorectal cancers.