Akt regulates progesterone receptor B-dependent transcription and angiogenesis in endometrial cancer cells

Oncogene. 2016 Sep 29;35(39):5191-201. doi: 10.1038/onc.2016.56. Epub 2016 Mar 21.

Abstract

Progestins have long been used clinically for the treatment of endometrial cancers; however, the response rates to progestin therapy vary and the molecular mechanisms behind progestin insensitivity are poorly understood. We hypothesized that in PTEN-mutated endometrial cancers, hyperactive Akt signaling downregulates progesterone receptor B (PRB) transcriptional activity, leading to overall impaired progestin responses. We report that inhibition of Akt with the Akt inhibitor, MK-2206 (MK), in conjunction with progestin (R5020) treatment, is sufficient to upregulate a subset of PRB target genes in Ishikawa cells stably expressing PRB (PRB-Ishikawa). Through gene ontology analysis of Akt-regulated PRB target genes, angiogenesis was found to be the principle process regulated by Akt-PRB. To further interrogate the mechanism by which Akt modulates PRB transcriptional activity, ChIP-Mass spectrometry was performed to identify potential cofactors that differentially interact with PRB in the presence of R5020 and MK+R5020. 14-3-3σ was identified as a protein enriched in the MK+R5020 data set, and it was demonstrated that 14-3-3σ is required for the upregulation in PRB target gene expression following inhibition of Akt. To determine the ramifications of MK+R5020 treatment on angiogenesis, in vitro assays were performed and combinatorial MK+R5020 treatment significantly decreased endothelial cell invasion and tube formation more than MK or R5020 treatment alone. Furthermore, we found that combinatorial MK-2206+progesterone treatments decreased angiogenesis and proliferation in the Pten(d/d) conditional mouse model of endometrial cancer. Taken together, these findings suggest that a combinatorial therapeutic approach utilizing Akt inhibitors with progestins may improve the efficacy of progestin therapy for the treatment of endometrial cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / genetics
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Progestins / administration & dosage
  • Promegestone / administration & dosage
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics*
  • Receptors, Progesterone / genetics*
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring
  • MK 2206
  • Progestins
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • progesterone receptor B
  • Promegestone
  • AKT1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt