PF-04691502, a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor has potent pre-clinical activity by inducing apoptosis and G1 cell cycle arrest in aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas

Int J Oncol. 2016 Jan;48(1):253-60. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2015.3231. Epub 2015 Nov 5.

Abstract

The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is activated in a variety of human tumors including B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). Targeting this pathway has been validated in solid and hematological tumors. In the present study, we demonstrated that PF-04691502, a novel PI3K/mTOR inhibitor has potent activity in a panel of aggressive B-NHL cell lines including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). MTS analysis showed that PF-04691502 effectively inhibited cell proliferation with IC50 values ranging from 0.12 to 0.55 µM. Cells treated with PF-04691502 exhibited decreased phosphorylation of Akt and S6 ribosomal protein confirming the mechanism of action of a PI3K/mTOR inhibitor. Also, treatment of B-NHL cell lines with PF-04691502 induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, PF-04691502 significantly induced G1 cell cycle arrest associated with a decrease in cyclin D1 which contributed to suppression of cell proliferation. Finally, rituximab enhanced apoptosis induced by PF-04691502. Taken together, our findings provide for the first time that PF-04691502 inhibits the constitutively activated PI3K/mTOR pathway in aggressive B-cell NHL cell lines associated with inhibition of cell cycle progression, cell proliferation and promotion of apoptosis. These findings suggest that PF-04691502 is a novel therapeutic strategy in aggressive B-cell NHL and warrants early phase clinical trial evaluation with and without rituximab.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / drug therapy*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / genetics
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / drug therapy*
  • Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / genetics
  • Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / pathology
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Pyridones / administration & dosage
  • Pyrimidines / administration & dosage
  • Rituximab / administration & dosage
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Sirolimus / administration & dosage
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • 2-amino-8-(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)cyclohexyl)-6-(6-methoxypyridin-3-yl)-4-methylpyrido(2,3-d)pyrimidin-7(8H)-one
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyridones
  • Pyrimidines
  • Rituximab
  • MTOR protein, human
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Sirolimus