Abstract
Overexpression of HER-2/neu correlates with poor survival of breast and ovarian cancer patients and induces resistance to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which causes cancer cells to escape from host immune defenses. The mechanism of HER-2/neu-induced TNF resistance is unknown. Here we report that HER-2/neu activates Akt and NF-kappaB without extracellular stimulation. Blocking of the Akt pathway by a dominant-negative Akt sensitizes the HER-2/neu-overexpressing cells to TNF-induced apoptosis and inhibits IkappaB kinases, IkappaB phosphorylation, and NF-kappaB activation. Our results suggested that HER-2/neu constitutively activates the Akt/NF-kappaB anti-apoptotic cascade to confer resistance to TNF on cancer cells and reduce host defenses against neoplasia.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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3T3 Cells
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Animals
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Apoptosis*
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Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
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Breast Neoplasms / mortality
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Drug Resistance
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Enzyme Activation
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Humans
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I-kappa B Kinase
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Mice
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NF-kappa B / metabolism*
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Prognosis
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
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Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
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Signal Transduction
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology*
Substances
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NF-kappa B
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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Receptor, ErbB-2
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AKT1 protein, human
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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CHUK protein, human
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Chuk protein, mouse
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I-kappa B Kinase
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IKBKB protein, human
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IKBKE protein, human
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Ikbkb protein, mouse
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Ikbke protein, mouse