Activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway Causes Drug Resistance in Breast Cancer

Chao Dong; Jiao Wu; Yin Chen; Jianyun Nie; Ceshi Chen; Ceshi Chen

doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.628690

Frontiers in Pharmacology (Mar 2021)

Activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway Causes Drug Resistance in Breast Cancer

Chao Dong,
Jiao Wu,
Yin Chen,
Jianyun Nie,
Ceshi Chen,
Ceshi Chen

Affiliations

Chao Dong: Department of the Second Medical Oncology, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
Jiao Wu: Department of the Second Medical Oncology, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
Yin Chen: Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, China
Jianyun Nie: Department of the Third Breast Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
Ceshi Chen: Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
Ceshi Chen: KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.628690
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12

Abstract

Read online

Although chemotherapy, targeted therapy and endocrine therapy decrease rate of disease recurrence in most breast cancer patients, many patients exhibit acquired resistance. Hyperactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is associated with drug resistance and cancer progression. Currently, a number of drugs targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR are being investigated in clinical trials by combining them with standard therapies to overcome acquired resistance in breast cancer. In this review, we summarize the critical role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in drug resistance, the development of PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors, and strategies to overcome acquired resistance to standard therapies in breast cancer.

Published in Frontiers in Pharmacology

ISSN: 1663-9812 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords