Mutations in FGFR3 and PIK3CA, singly or combined with RAS and AKT1, are associated with AKT but not with MAPK pathway activation in urothelial bladder cancer

Hum Pathol. 2012 Oct;43(10):1573-82. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2011.10.026. Epub 2012 Mar 12.

Abstract

Different members of the phosphoinositide 3 kinase--serine threonine protein kinase (PI3K-AKT) pathway are altered in bladder cancer. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) mutations characterize the low-grade tumors, and RAS genes are mutated in approximately 13% of all bladder tumors. Interestingly, a percentage of bladder tumors have alterations in more than 1 PI3K-AKT or rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog-RAF mitogen activated protein kinase (RAS-MAPK) pathway gene or their upstream regulators, but some combinations are mutually exclusive. We analyzed mutations in FGFR3, phosphoinositide 3 kinase catalytic alpha polypeptide (PIK3CA), v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT1), v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), v-Ha-ras Harvey rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (HRAS), and v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) in 88 urothelial cell carcinomas and the immunohistochemical expression of phospho-v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (AKT) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 and 2 (pERK1/2) in 80 and 77 urothelial cell carcinomas, respectively. Approximately 43% and 20.5% of tumors presented 1 and 2 mutated genes, respectively. FGFR3 mutations were more frequent alone, whereas PIK3CA mutations were associated with another mutated gene (FGFR3 and KRAS). Overall, mutated FGFR3 (FGFR3(mut)) and mutated FGFR3 (FGFR3(mut))-mutated PIK3CA (PIK3CA(mut)) genotypes were associated with low-grade bladder tumors and mutated PIK3CA (PIK3CA(mut))-mutated KRAS (KRAS(mut)) and mutated AKT1 (AKT1(mut)) were only present in high-grade tumors. There are no mutated FGFR3 (FGFR3(mut))-mutated RAS (RAS(mut)) nor mutated PIK3CA (PIK3CA(mut))-mutated AKT1 (AKT1(mut)) combinations. Fifty percent and 56% of tumors showed high levels of pAKT and pERK1/2, respectively. High levels of pAKT were associated with total mutations, FGFR3(mut), and PIK3CA(mut) tumors but not with tumor grade or stage. Wild-type tumors presented significantly higher pERK1/2 expression. Mutations in FGFR3 and FGFR3-PIK3CA but not single PIK3CA mutations characterize low-grade bladder tumors. Single FGFR3 or PIK3CA mutations and the different mutation combinations FGFR3-PIK3CA/AKT1 and PIK3CA-RAS can activate the AKT but not the MAPK pathway. Other genes different from FGFR3 may be related with the pERK activation in bladder tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / pathology
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology
  • Mutation
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3 / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology
  • ras Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • PIK3CA protein, human
  • FGFR3 protein, human
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3
  • AKT1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • ras Proteins