PTEN, pAKT, and pmTOR expression and subcellular distribution in primary renal cell carcinomas and their metastases

Cancer Invest. 2011 Aug;29(7):427-38. doi: 10.3109/07357907.2011.584782. Epub 2011 Jun 22.

Abstract

The present study evaluated pAKT, pmTOR, and PTEN expression in a tissue microarray of primary renal cell carcinomas (PRCCs), their metastases, and normal renal parenchyma (NRP) (N = 45) by means of immunohistochemistry. Metastases in most subcellular compartments showed comparable and stronger expression for pAKT, pmTOR, and PTEN than PRCC and NRP, which was even more pronounced in patients with high-risk Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) score. Furthermore, most subcellular compartments showed no differences between lymphogenous, haematogenous, synchronous, and metachronous metastases, which is interesting with regard to sensitivity to mTOR inhibitor therapy in metastasized RCCs with alterations in the PI3K/AKT pathway.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / chemistry
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology*
  • Cytoplasm / chemistry
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Kidney Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / analysis*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / physiology
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • MTOR protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • PTEN protein, human