ErbB2-positive mammary tumors can escape PI3K-p110α loss through downregulation of the Pten tumor suppressor

PI3K-p110α mediates the oncogenic activity induced by loss of the novel tumor suppressor PI3K-p85α.

Mutation or loss of the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is emerging as a transforming factor in cancer, but the mechanism of transformation has been controversial. Here we find that hemizygous deletion of the PIK3R1 gene encoding p85α is a frequent event in breast cancer, with PIK3R1 expression significantly reduced in breast tumors. PIK3R1 knockdown transforms hu...

Both p110α and p110β isoforms of PI3K can modulate the impact of loss-of-function of the PTEN tumour suppressor

The PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) pathway is commonly activated in cancer as a consequence of inactivation of the tumour suppressor PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10), a major negative regulator of PI3K signalling. In line with this important role of PTEN, mice that are heterozygous for a PTEN-null allele (PTEN+/− mice) spontaneously develop a variety of tumours...

Addition of the Akt inhibitor triciribine overcomes antibody resistance in cells from ErbB2/Neu-positive/PTEN-deficient mammary tumors.

Trastuzumab resistance is a challenging problem in ErbB2/HER2-positive breast cancers. Multiple mechanisms of resistance have been proposed and, thus, may require the development of more personalized therapies. In this study, we report the establishment of a mouse mammary cancer cell line, designated MT104T, obtained from spontaneous tumors in genetically engineered FVB/N-ErbB2/Neu-positive-PTE...

Mitochondrial Tumor Suppressor and Genetic Loss Results in a Murine Model for ER/PR-Positive Mammary Tumors Connecting Metabolism and Carcinogenesis Mitochondrial Tumor Suppressor PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: CONTRACTING

Mesangial cell hypertrophy by high glucose is mediated by downregulation of the tumor suppressor PTEN.

Diabetic nephropathy is characterized early in its course by glomerular hypertrophy and, importantly, mesangial hypertrophy, which correlate with eventual glomerulosclerosis. The mechanism of hypertrophy, however, is not known. Gene disruption of the tumor suppressor PTEN, a negative regulator of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway, in fruit flies and mice demonstrated its role in siz...