Abstract
The tumor suppressor PTEN is frequently inactivated in human cancers. A major downstream effector of PTEN is Akt, which is hyperactivated via PTEN inactivation. It is not known, however, whether diminished Akt activity is sufficient to inhibit tumorigenesis initiated by Pten deficiency. Here we showed that the deficiency of Akt1 is sufficient to dramatically inhibit tumor development in Pten+/- mice. Akt1 deficiency had a profound effect on endometrium and prostate neoplasia, two types of human cancer, in which PTEN is frequently mutated, and also affected thyroid and adrenal medulla tumors and intestinal polyps. Even haplodeficiency of Akt1 was sufficient to markedly attenuate the development of high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and endometrial carcinoma. These results have significant implications for cancer therapy.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / enzymology
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Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / genetics
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Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / pathology
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Animals
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Endometrial Neoplasms / enzymology
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Endometrial Neoplasms / genetics
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Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
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Female
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Heterozygote
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Intestinal Polyps / enzymology
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Intestinal Polyps / pathology
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Male
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Mice
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Neoplasms / enzymology*
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Neoplasms / genetics
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Neoplasms / pathology*
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PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics*
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PTEN Phosphohydrolase / metabolism*
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Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / enzymology
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Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / genetics
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Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / pathology
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Prostatic Neoplasms / enzymology
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Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
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Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / deficiency*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics
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Pseudolymphoma / enzymology
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Pseudolymphoma / genetics
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Pseudolymphoma / pathology
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Thyroid Neoplasms / enzymology
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Thyroid Neoplasms / genetics
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Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology
Substances
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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PTEN Phosphohydrolase