Association of MTOR and AKT Gene Polymorphisms with Susceptibility and Survival of Gastric Cancer

mTOR pathway candidate genes and energy intake interaction on breast cancer risk in Black women from the Women's Circle of Health Study

BACKGROUND

Excessive energy intake has been shown to affect the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway and breast cancer risk. It is not well understood whether there are gene-environment interactions between mTOR pathway genes and energy intake in relation to breast cancer risk.

METHODS

The study included 1642 Black women (809 incident breast cancer cases and 833 controls) from the Women's Circle of Health Study (WCHS). We examined interactions between 43 candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 20 mTOR pathway genes and quartiles of energy intake in relation to breast cancer risk overall and by ER- defined subtypes using Wald test with a 2-way interaction term.

RESULTS

AKT1 rs10138227 (C > T) was only associated with a decreased overall breast cancer risk among women in quartile (Q)2 of energy intake, odds ratio (OR) = 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40, 0.91 (p-interaction = 0.042). Similar results were found in ER- tumors. AKT rs1130214 (C > A) was associated with decreased overall breast cancer risk in Q2 (OR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.44, 0.91) and Q3 (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.48, 0.89) (p-interaction = 0.026). HIF-1α C1772T rs11549465 (C > T) was associated with decreased overall breast cancer risk in Q4 (OR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.14, 0.59, p-interaction = 0.007); the results were similar in ER+ tumors. These interactions became non-significant after correction for multiple comparisons.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that mTOR genetic variants may interact with energy intake in relation to breast cancer risk, including the ER- subtype, in Black women. Future studies should confirm these findings.

mTOR pathway candidate genes and obesity interaction on breast cancer risk in black women from the Women's Circle of Health Study

BACKGROUND

Obesity is known to stimulate the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway and both obesity and the mTOR signaling pathway are implicated in breast carcinogenesis. We investigated potential gene-environment interactions between mTOR pathway genes and obesity in relation to breast cancer risk among Black women.

METHODS

The study included 1,655 Black women (821 incident breast cancer cases and 834 controls) from the Women's Circle of Health Study (WCHS). Obesity measures including body mass index (BMI); central obesity i.e., waist circumference (WC) and waist/hip ratio (WHR); and body fat distribution (fat mass, fat mass index and percent body fat) were obtained by trained research staff. We examined the associations of 43 candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 20 mTOR pathway genes with breast cancer risk using multivariable logistic regression. We next examined interactions between these SNPs and measures of obesity using Wald test with 2-way interaction term.

RESULTS

The variant allele of BRAF (rs114729114 C > T) was associated with an increase in overall breast cancer risk [odds ratio (OR) = 1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-2.99, for each copy of the T allele] and the risk of estrogen receptor (ER)-defined subtypes (ER+ tumors: OR = 1.83, 95% CI 1.04,3.29, for each copy of the T allele; ER- tumors OR = 2.14, 95% CI 1.03,4.45, for each copy of the T allele). Genetic variants in AKT, AKT1, PGF, PRKAG2, RAPTOR, TSC2 showed suggestive associations with overall breast cancer risk and the risk of, ER+ and ER- tumors (range of p-values = 0.040-0.097). We also found interactions of several of the SNPs with BMI, WHR, WC, fat mass, fat mass index and percent body fat in relation to breast cancer risk. These associations and interactions, however, became nonsignificant after correction for multiple testing (FDR-adjusted p-value > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

We found associations between mTOR genetic variants and breast cancer risk as well as gene and body fatness interactions in relation to breast cancer risk. However, these associations and interactions became nonsignificant after correction for multiple testing. Future studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm and validate these findings.

Machine learning-based models for genomic predicting neoadjuvant chemotherapeutic sensitivity in cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

The PI3K/Akt pathway involves in regulating resistance to platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) reflect the basic genetic variation between individuals. Random forest (RF) is one of the machine-learning models that can predict drug sensitivity with high accuracy. We applied the RF model for genomic prediction of NACT sensitivity in LACC patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 259 LACC patients were separated to two groups (i) effective and (ii) ineffective NACT group, depending on the NACT response. The 24 SNPs in four genes (PTEN, PIK3CA, Akt1, and Akt2) were genotyped by the Sequenom MassArray system in these patients. We implemented the SNPs as the feature to train the RF model, calculated the feature importance using mean decreases in impurity based on the model, and further analyzed the importance of each SNP.

RESULTS

The importance analysis indicated that the top three SNPs (rs4558508, rs1130233, and rs7259541) and the last six loci (rs892120, rs62107593, rs34716810, rs10416620, rs41275748, and rs41275746) were all located in Akt. The patients carrying heterozygous GA in Akt2 rs4558508 had a considerably higher risk of chemoresistance than those carrying GG or AA genotype.

CONCLUSION

The RF model could accurately predict the response to platinum-based NACT of LACC patients. The variables of Akt2 rs4558508 and rs7259541, and Akt1 rs1130233 were major polymorphic loci for NACT inefficiency. The LACC patients carrying heterozygous GA of Akt2 rs4558508 had a significantly increased risk of chemoresistance. Akt was an important gene in PI3K/Akt pathway that could predict the response of platinum-based NACT. The study applied the basis for an individualized approach to LACC patient therapy.

Polymorphisms in PI3K/AKT genes and gene‑smoking interaction are associated with susceptibility to tuberculosis

BACKGROUND

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT) are involved in the clearance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) by macrophages.

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the effects of polymorphisms in the PI3K/AKT genes and the gene-smoking interaction on susceptibility to TB.

METHODS

This case-control study used stratified sampling to randomly select 503 TB patients and 494 control subjects. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between the polymorphisms and TB. Simultaneously, the marginal structure linear dominance model was used to estimate the gene-smoking interaction.

RESULTS

Genotypes GA (OR 1.562), AA (OR 2.282), and GA + AA (OR 1.650) at rs3730089 of the PI3KR1 gene were significantly associated with the risk to develop TB. Genotypes AG (OR 1.460), GG (OR 2.785), and AG + GG (OR 1.622) at rs1130233 of the AKT1 gene were significantly associated with the risk to develop TB. In addition, the relative excess risk of interaction (RERI) between rs3730089 and smoking was 0.9608 (95% CI: 0.5959, 1.3256, p < 0.05), which suggests a positive interaction.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that rs3730089 and rs1130233 are associated with susceptibility to TB, and there was positive interaction between rs3730089 and smoking on susceptibility to TB.

Impact of AKT1 polymorphism on DNA damage, BTG2 expression, and risk of colorectal cancer development

BACKGROUND

AKT, also called protein kinase B, is a serine-threonine kinase that functions as a mediator of PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway and plays an important role in an array of cellular processes. Many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in AKT gene have been observed to be associated with various types of cancers. In the current research the association of a functional SNP rs1130233 in AKT, depicting G to A transition, was studied with AKT activation, DNA damage, an early response B-cell translocation gene 2 (Btg2) expression and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) development.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total 197 population-based controls and 200 CRC patients were genotyped for SNP rs1130233. AKT expression, activation and BTG2 expression were determined in GG, AG and AA genotype carriers. DNA damage was determined through comet assay.

RESULTS

The heterozygous AG genotype (55.67%) was more prevalent in the local population compared to homozygous wild type GG (37.78%) and homozygous AA genotypes (6.55%). Moreover, AG and AA alleles were observed to be significant contributors (P = 0.01, OR = 1.80, CI = 1.18 to 2.74, and P = 0.001, OR = 5.00, CI = 1.90 to 13.18, respectively) in increasing the risk of CRC. The immunoblot analysis revealed that G to A transition decreased the expression and activation of AKT. Moreover, AG and AA genotypes of AKT1 rs1130233 showed a significant increase in DNA damage and Btg2 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

The data concludes that G to A substitution is a risk factor for CRC development involving a decrease in AKT expression and activation and increase in DNA damage.

Associations of Genetic Polymorphisms of mTOR rs2295080 T/G and rs1883965 G/A with Susceptibility of Urinary System Cancers

Background. Genetic polymorphisms in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling axis can influence the susceptibility of cancer. The relationship between mTOR gene variants rs2295080 T/G and rs1883965 G/A and the risk of cancer remains inconsistent. The present study is aimed at comprehensively investigating the association between mTOR polymorphisms and susceptibility to cancer. Methods. We conducted a comprehensive assessment using odds ratios (ORs), corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and in silico tools to evaluate the effect of mTOR variations. Immunohistochemical staining (IHS) and GSEA analysis were used to investigate the expression of mTOR in urinary system cancer. Results. The pooled analysis involved 22 case-control studies including 14,747 cancer patients and 16,399 controls. The rs2295080 T/G polymorphism was associated with the risk of cancer (G-allele versus T-allele, $\text{OR}=0.89$ , $95\%\text{CI}=0.80$ –0.98, $P=0.023$ ; GT versus TT, $\text{OR}=0.88$ , $95\%\text{CI}=0.81$ –0.96, $P=0.004$ ; GG+GT versus TT, $\text{OR}=0.87$ , $95\%\text{CI}=0.78$ –0.96, $P=0.008$ ), especially for cancers of the urinary system, breast, and blood. Variation rs1883965 G/A was associated with cancer susceptibility, especially for digestive cancer. IHS analysis showed that mTOR was upregulated in prostate and bladder cancer. GSEA revealed that the insulin signaling pathway, lysine degradation pathway, and mTOR signaling pathway were enriched in the high mTOR expression group. Conclusions. The mTOR rs2295080 T/G polymorphism may be associated with susceptibility of urinary cancer. The expression of mTOR is positively correlated with tumor malignancy in prostate cancer.

Polymorphisms in the mTOR-PI3K-Akt pathway, energy balance-related exposures and colorectal cancer risk in the Netherlands Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

The mTOR-PI3K-Akt pathway influences cell metabolism and (malignant) cell growth. We generated sex-specific polygenic risk scores capturing natural variation in 7 out of 10 top-ranked genes in this pathway. We studied the scores directly and in interaction with energy balance-related factors (body mass index (BMI), trouser/skirt size, height, physical activity, and early life energy restriction) in relation to colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in the Netherlands Cohort Study (NLCS) (n=120,852). The NLCS has a case-cohort design and 20.3 years of follow-up. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire on diet and cancer in 1986 when 55-69 years old. ~75% of the cohort returned toenail clippings used for DNA isolation and genotyping (n subcohort=3,793, n cases=3,464). To generate the scores, the dataset was split in two and risk alleles were defined and weighted based on sex-specific associations with CRC risk in the other dataset half, because there were no SNPs in the top-ranked genes associated with CRC risk in previous genome-wide association studies at a significance level p<1*10^-5.

RESULTS

Cox regression analyses showed positive associations between the sex-specific polygenic risk scores and colon but not rectal cancer risk in men and women, with hazard ratios for continuously modeled scores close to 1.10. There was no modifying effect observed of the scores on associations between the energy balance-related factors and CRC risk. However, BMI (in men), non-occupational physical activity (in women), and height (in men and women) were associated with the risk of CRC, in particular (proximal and distal) colon cancer, in the direction as expected in the lower tertiles of the sex-specific polygenic risk scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Current data suggest that the mTOR-PI3K-Akt pathway may be involved in colon cancer development. This study thereby sheds more light on colon cancer etiology through use of genetic variation in the mTOR-PI3K-Akt pathway.

Biological Role of AKT and Regulation of AKT Signaling Pathway by Thymoquinone: Perspectives in Cancer Therapeutics

BACKGROUND

AKT/PKB is an important enzyme with numerous biological functions, and its overexpression is related to carcinogenesis. AKT stimulates different signaling pathways that are downstream of activated tyrosine kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, hence functions as an important target for anti-cancer drugs.

OBJECTIVE

In this review article, we have interpreted the role of AKT signaling pathway in cancer and the natural inhibitory effect of Thymoquinone (TQ) in AKT and its possible mechanisms.

METHOD

We have collected the updated information and data on AKT, its role in cancer and the inhibitory effect of TQ in AKT signaling pathway from Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, Scopus, and many more.

RESULTS

Many drugs are already developed, which can target AKT, but very few among them have passed clinical trials. TQ is a natural compound, mainly found in black cumin, which has been found to have potential anti-cancer activities. TQ targets numerous signaling pathways, including AKT, in different cancers. In fact, many studies revealed that AKT is one of the major targets of TQ. The preclinical success of TQ suggests its clinical studies on cancer.

CONCLUSION

This review article summarizes the role of AKT in carcinogenesis, its potent inhibitors in clinical trials, and how TQ acts as an inhibitor of AKT and TQ's future as a cancer therapeutic drug.

Association of Inflammation-Related Gene Polymorphisms With Susceptibility and Radiotherapy Sensitivity in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients in Northeast China

Background

Inflammation-related gene polymorphisms are some of the most important determinants for cancer susceptibility, clinical phenotype diversity, and the response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the relationship between these polymorphisms and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of inflammation-related gene polymorphisms in the developmental risk and radiotherapy sensitivity of HNSCC.

Methods

The Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) genotyping system was used to genotype 612 individuals from a Chinese population for 28 inflammation-related gene polymorphisms.

Results

The protein kinase B (AKT1) rs1130233 TT, dominance model (CT+TT vs. CC), recessive model (TT vs. CT+CC), and rs2494732 CC genotypes were associated with reduced risk of HNSCC (P=0.014; P=0.041; P=0.043). The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR) rs291097 GA, dominance model (GA+AA vs. GG), and rs291102 dominance model (GA+AA vs. GG) were associated with increased risk of HNSCC (P=0.025; P=0.025; P=0.040). The interleukin-4 receptor-α (IL-4RA) rs1801275 AA genotype was significantly correlated with increased radiotherapy sensitivity of HNSCC patients (P=0.030). In addition, age ≤ 60 years, non-smoker status, and normal levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) were found to be associated with increased radiotherapy sensitivity of HNSCC patients (P=0.033; P=0.033; P=0.030).

Conclusion

The AKT1 rs1130233, AKT1 rs2494732, PIGR rs291097, and PIGR rs291102 polymorphisms were significantly related to the risk of HNSCC. The IL-4RA rs1801275 polymorphism, age ≤ 60 years, non-smoker status, and normal levels of SCC were significantly associated with increased radiotherapy sensitivity of HNSCC.

Ceritinib increases sensitivity of AKT inhibitors to gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC), known for high morbidity and mortality, is poorly prognosed with traditional chemotherapy and biological agents. Current studies have found that over-activation of AKT is a common molecular characteristic in GC. Although the development of this targeted inhibitor has entered clinical phases, limited success is reported because of its compensatory signaling pathways. Here, we found that GC cell lines with high phosphorylation of AKT show different sensitivity to AKT inhibitors (AKTis), but a reduction of p-GSK3β related sensitivity of AKTis in GC cells. Besides, we revealed that Ceritinib exerted a strongly synergistic antitumor effect with AKT inhibitors both in vitro and in vivo. Obviously, Ceritinib improved the sensitivity of Capivasertib (AZD5363, AKTs) and Afuresertib (GSK2110183, AKTis) in gastric cancer cells, as illustrated by a significant reduction in the GC cell proliferation and enhanced apoptosis. The drug combination showed tumor regression in BALB/c (nu/nu) mouse MKN45 (Gastric cancer), tumor model. Also, the combination strategy indicated significantly low p-AKT levels due to AKTis compensation and reduced the levels of p-GSK3β in both GC cell lines and GC patient-derived cells. These findings may provide a novel combination strategy for gastric cancer treatment.

The PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in gastric cancer; from oncogenic variations to the possibilities for pharmacologic interventions

Genetic and epigenetic alterations have been under concentrated investigations for many years in order to unearth the molecules regulating human cancer pathogenesis. However, the identification of a wide range of dysregulated genes and their protein products has raised a question regarding how the results of this large collection of alterations could converge into a formation of one malignancy. The answer may be found in the signaling cascades that regulate the survival and metabolism of the cells. Aberrancies of each participant molecule of such cascades may well result in augmented viability and unlimited proliferation of cancer cells. Among various signaling pathways, the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) axis has been shown to be activated in about one-third of human cancers. One of the malignancies that is mostly affected by this axis is gastric cancer (GC), one of the most fatal cancers worldwide. In the present review, we aimed to illustrate the significance of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis in the pathogenesis of GC and also provided a wide perspective about the application of the inhibitors of this axis in the therapeutic strategies of this malignancy.

Integrating Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation to Investigate the Mechanisms of Huazhuojiedu Decoction to Treat Chronic Atrophic Gastritis

Background

Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is an important stage in the normal gastric mucosa's transformation into gastric cancer. Huazhuojiedu decoction (HZJD), a Chinese herbal preparation, has proven clinically effective to treat CAG. However, few studies have explored the mechanism of HZJD in CAG treatment.

Purpose

This study aimed to shed light on the mechanisms underlying HZJD decoction CAG treatment using a network pharmacology approach and experimental validation.

Methods

The active components of HZJD decoction were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform. Their targets were predicted through the SwissTargetPrediction database. Disease targets were screened using the GeneCards database. The disease and drug prediction targets were intersected to select the common potential therapeutic targets, which then were input into the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes to build a protein-protein interaction network. The “herb-compound-target-disease” and the “herb-target-pathway” network diagrams were constructed in Cytoscape 3.3.0. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis of effective targets were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery. Finally, the core targets were preliminarily verified by CAG rat model. The gastric mucosa's histopathological changes were observed via hematoxylin-eosin staining. The expressions of MAPK1, AKT1, TNF, VEGFA, and EGFR were detected by western blot and quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Results

A total of 155 nodes, including 20 putative targets of HZJD decoction, were selected as core hubs based on topological importance and were closely associated with the regulation of cell proliferation, apoptotic process, and cancer-related pathways (AKT1, TNF, VEGFA, and EGFR) in CAG. Further animal experiments showed that the expression of AKT1 in CAG rats was significantly increased, which was suppressed by HZJD decoction. TNF and VEGFA expression increased in the model group, but did not change in the HZJD group. MAPK1 and EGFR expression showed no significant differences among control, model, and HZJD groups.

Conclusion

Taken together, the results suggest that the components of HZJD decoction can alleviate and prevent the severity of gastric precancerous lesions via AKT1 inhibition in CAG.

Pharmacological Effects of Agastache rugosa against Gastritis Using a Network Pharmacology Approach

Agastache rugosa is used as a Korean traditional medicine to treat gastric diseases. However, the active ingredients and pharmacological targets of A. rugosa are unknown. In this study, we aimed to reveal the pharmacological effects of A. rugosa on gastritis by combining a mice model and a network pharmacology method. The macrophage and gastritis-induced models were used to evaluate the pharmacological effects of A. rugosa. The results show that A. rugosa relieved mucosal damage induced by HCl/EtOH in vivo. Network analysis identified 99 components in A. rugosa; six components were selected through systematic screening, and five components were linked to 45 gastritis-related genes. The main components were acacetin and luteolin, and the identified core genes were AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor alpha (NFKBIA), and mitogen-activated protein kinase-3 (MAPK3) etc. in this network. The network of components, target genes, protein–protein interactions, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway was closely connected with chemokines and with phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt (PI3K/AKT), tumor-necrosis-factor alpha (TNFα), mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor kappa B, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. In conclusion, A. rugosa exerts gastro-protective effects through a multi-compound and multi-pathway regulatory network and holds potential for treating inflammatory gastric diseases.

Network pharmacology research of Astragali Radix in treating chronic atrophic gastritis rats based on mitochondrial metabonomics

Astragali Radix (HuangQi), one important traditional Chinese herb, is used for treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). To comprehensively evaluate its regulation on CAG, a mitochondria-specific metabonomics was applied to reveal its action on energy metabolism based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole - Exactive mass spectrometry. 16 related metabolites from mitochondria samples were served as potential biomarkers of CAG. Nine out of them were significantly regulated by HuangQi. Combining with network pharmacology, three active components from HuangQi and 3 mitochondrial metabolites exerted better docking abilities with 56 predicted targeted proteins based on SystemsDock, which were involved into multiple biological abnormities including mitochondrion dysfunction. The results demonstrated that mitochondrial energy metabolism played crucial role contributing to HuangQi against CAG, which was one important mechanism of HuangQi.

Effects of the mTOR and AKT genes polymorphisms on systemic lupus erythematosus risk

The systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, leading to inflammatory response and systemic consequences. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases like SLE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the mTOR rs2295080 and rs2536 polymorphisms and AKT1 rs2494732 gene polymorphism on SLE development. 2 ml of peripheral blood was collected from 165 SLE patients and 170 controls in EDTA-containing tubes. The salting-out and PCR-RFLP methods were used for DNA extraction and genotype analysis, respectively. Based on the regression analysis, the frequency of TT genotype of mTOR rs2295080 polymorphism was significantly higher in the case group than that of the control group, with a 2.6-fold increased risk of SLE. There was also a significant difference between the two groups in terms of allelic distribution. No statistically significant association was found between The AKT1 rs2494732 and mTOR rs2536 polymorphisms and SLE development. Our results showed that the TT genotype and T allele of mTOR rs2295080 polymorphism were risk factors for developing SLE. However, there was no significant association between mTOR rs2536 and AKT1 rs2494732 polymorphisms and the SLE risk.

Identification of biomarkers associated with histological grade and prognosis of gastric cancer by co-expression network analysis

The biological characteristics and clinical outcomes of gastric cancer (GC) are largely dependent on the histopathological type and degree of differentiation. The identification of the molecular mechanisms underlying the histological grade of GC may provide information about tumorigenesis and tumor progression, and may subsequently be used to develop novel therapeutic agents. The present study obtained the RNA sequencing data and clinical characteristics of patients with GC from The Cancer Genome Atlas. A total of 1,400 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened between two histological grades. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was subsequently used to identify nine co-expressed gene modules, and the black module was found to be the most significant for prognosis prediction of tumor. Additionally, the black module was associated with overall survival time, death event, N stage and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the biological processes of the genes in the black module included ‘Wnt signaling pathway’ and ‘structural molecule activity’. Additionally, 10 network hub genes that were significantly associated with the progression of GC were identified from the black module, and the significance of each hub gene was determined across different TNM stages. Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that keratin 40 and glycine decarboxylase were significantly associated with patient prognosis (P<0.05), suggesting that these genes may serve as potential progression and prognosis biomarkers in GC. The present study identified molecular markers that correlated with histological grade in GC. Therefore, the results obtained in the present study may have important clinical implications on treatment selection, risk stratification and prognosis prediction in patients with GC.

Association of a genetic variant in AKT1 gene with features of the metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of metabolic abnormalities that is associated with increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. There is growing body of data showing the associations of genetic variants of the genes involved in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway with diabetes and obesity. We aimed to investigate the association between MetS and its components with the genetic polymorphism in AKT1, rs1130233 (T > C). Total of 618 participants, recruited from Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerosis disorder cohort (MASHAD study). Patients with MetS were defined by using international diabetes federation (IDF) criteria (n = 326) and those without MetS (n = 261) were recruited. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured in all subjects. Genetic analysis for the rs1130233 polymorphism was performed, using the ABI-StepOne instruments with SDS version-2.0 software. Individuals with MetS had a significantly higher levels of BMI, waist-circumference, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high sensitivity-c reactive protein (hs-CRP) and blood-pressure, and lower concentrations of high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), compared to non-MetS individuals (P < 0.05). The association between the rs1130233 and MetS was not significant. Subjects with a CC or CT genotypes had a significantly higher serum hs-CRP-level (OR: 1.5; 95% CI (1.05–2.1), P = 0.02). Additionally, subjects who carried the TC genotype had a higher BMI compared to the CC genotype (p value = 0.045). Our findings demonstrated that AKT1, rs1130233 (T > C) polymorphism was associated with major components of MetS such as hs-CRP, and BMI, indicating further investigation in a multi-center setting to explore its value as an emerging biomarker of risk stratification marker.

AKT as a Therapeutic Target for Cancer

Many cellular processes in cancer are attributed to kinase signaling networks. V-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (AKT) plays a major role in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. AKT is activated by PI3K or phosphoinositide-dependent kinases (PDK) as well as growth factors, inflammation, and DNA damage. Signal transduction occurs through downstream effectors such as mTOR, glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β), or forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1). The abnormal overexpression or activation of AKT has been observed in many cancers, including ovarian, lung, and pancreatic cancers, and is associated with increased cancer cell proliferation and survival. Therefore, targeting AKT could provide an important approach for cancer prevention and therapy. In this review, we discuss the rationale for targeting AKT and also provide details regarding synthetic and natural AKT-targeting compounds and their associated studies.

Genetic variations in PRKAA1 predict the risk and progression of gastric Cancer

Background

PRKAA1 encodes α-subunit of 5-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of carcinoma of the stomach. Previous works have suggested that polymorphisms in the PRKAA1 may be associated with the risk of non-cardiac gastric cancer (NCGC), but whether PRKAA1 polymorphisms are related to clinical pathologic characteristics of gastric cancer and its clinical outcome is largely unknown.

Methods

We carried out a case-control study including a total of 481 gastric cancer patients and 490 healthy controls. The genotypes of enrolled polymorphisms were identified with Sequenom MassARRAY platform.

Results

This study showed that rs10074991 GG genotype (adjusted OR = 1.44, 95%CI:0.99–2.09, p = 0.056) has a borderline significantly increased risk for gastric cancer, which was consistent with the result of additive model (adjusted OR = 1.21, 95%CI:1.01–1.46, p = 0.042). In similar, an increased risk of gastric cancer was also observed for rs13361707 TC genotype (adjusted OR = 1.47, 95%CI: 1.01–2.14, p = 0.043; additive model: adjusted OR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.02–1.47, p = 0.033). Furthermore, the rs154268 and rs461404 were also found associated with increased gastric cancer risk, which may be influenced by age, tumor type and differentiation, and tumor stage. Haplotype analysis indicated A-G-C-T-C-G haplotype (rs6882903, rs10074991, rs13361707, rs3805490, rs154268 and rs461404) is associated with increased risk of gastric cancer (OR = 1.29, 95%CI: 1.02–1.62, p = 0.035). The univariate analysis for overall survival (OS) revealed that both of rs10074991 and rs13361707 variants are associated with poor OS in patients with NCGC.

Conclusion

This case-control study provided the evidence thatrs13361707CC, rs10074991GG, rs461404GG, and rs154268CC are associated with increased gastric cancer risk, especially for NCGC, and that patients with rs10074991 G or rs13361707 C allele have a poor OS.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4818-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Association between AKT rs2494752 single nucleotide polymorphism and the risk of metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common types of human tumors, which is characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates. AKT1 transcriptional activity is implicated in HCC initiation and development. In the present study, the effects of rs2494752 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on AKT1 transcriptional activity in the progression of HCC cells were investigated. A case-control study was analyzed in 1,056 HCC patients and 1,080 healthy individuals using the PCR assay method. Results indicated AKT1 expression levels were up-regulated in HCC tissue compared to adjacent normal tissues. Furthermore, a higher frequency of AKT rs2494752 AG and AA genotypes were observed in HCC cases (P=0.0046). Gene polymorphism identified C and T alleles were frequency in HCC patients compared to healthy individuals. Individuals harboring AKT rs2494752 AG/AA genotype had a vital increased susceptibility to HCC in the dominant model (P=0.0028). In addition, AKT1 rs2494752 GG genotype showed an increasing of AKT1 promoter activity determined by the luciferase assay. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that AKT1 rs2494752 GG and C polymorphism was more aggressive than other AKT1 rs2494752 cancer cells. Moreover, AKT1 rs2494752 GG markedly increased rates of response to NCT chemotherapy. Additionally, results revealed that AKT1 rs2494752 GG and C increased the risk factors of HCC. In conclusion, these results indicate that AKT1 rs2494752 polymorphisms may be regarded as a candidate gene in assessing the susceptibility, metastasis and responses to chemotherapy in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Polymorphism rs1385129 Within Glut1 Gene SLC2A1 Is Linked to Poor CD4+ T Cell Recovery in Antiretroviral-Treated HIV+ Individuals

Untreated HIV infection is associated with progressive CD4+ T cell depletion, which is generally recovered with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). However, a significant proportion of cART-treated individuals have poor CD4+ T cell reconstitution. We investigated associations between HIV disease progression and CD4+ T cell glucose transporter-1 (Glut1) expression. We also investigated the association between these variables and specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the Glut1 regulatory gene AKT (rs1130214, rs2494732, rs1130233, and rs3730358) and in the Glut1-expressing gene SLC2A1 (rs1385129 and rs841853) and antisense RNA 1 region SLC2A1-AS1 (rs710218). High CD4+Glut1+ T cell percentage is associated with rapid CD4+ T cell decline in HIV-positive treatment-naïve individuals and poor T cell recovery in HIV-positive individuals on cART. Evidence suggests that poor CD4+ T cell recovery in treated HIV-positive individuals is linked to the homozygous genotype (GG) associated with SLC2A1 SNP rs1385129 when compared to those with a recessive allele (GA/AA) (odds ratio = 4.67; P = 0.04). Furthermore, poor response to therapy is less likely among Australian participants when compared against American participants (odds ratio: 0.12; P = 0.01) despite there being no difference in prevalence of a specific genotype for any of the SNPs analyzed between nationalities. Finally, CD4+Glut1+ T cell percentage is elevated among those with a homozygous dominant genotype for SNPs rs1385129 (GG) and rs710218 (AA) when compared to those with a recessive allele (GA/AA and AT/TT respectively) (P < 0.04). The heterozygous genotype associated with AKT SNP 1130214 (GT) had a higher CD4+Glut1+ T cell percentage when compared to the dominant homozygous genotype (GG) (P = 0.0068). The frequency of circulating CD4+Glut1+ T cells and the rs1385129 SLC2A1 SNP may predict the rate of HIV disease progression and CD4+ T cell recovery in untreated and treated infection, respectively.

Genetic Variants Within MTORC1 Genes Predict Gastric Cancer Prognosis in Chinese Populations

Objective: Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) plays an important role in maintaining proper cellular functions in gastric cancer (GC). Previous studies demonstrated genetic variants within mTORC1 genes were associated with GC risk. However, no studies reported the associations between genetic variants within mTORC1 genes and GC prognosis. Herein, we firstly assessed the associations of genetic variants of mTORC1 genes with overall survival (OS) of GC in Chinese populations.

Methods: We genotyped eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in mTORC1 genes (i.e., rs2536 T>C and rs1883965 G>A for mTOR, rs3160 T>C and rs26865 A>G for MLST8, rs3751934 C>A, rs1062935 T>C, rs3751932 T>C and rs12602885 G>A for RPTOR) by the TaqMan method in 197 Chinese GC patients who had surgical resection in Xinhua Hospital. We conducted Kaplan-Meier survival plots and Cox hazards regression analysis to explore the associations of these SNPs with OS.

Results: The single-locus analysis indicated that RPTOR rs1062935 T>C was associated with an increased risk of poor GC prognosis (CC vs. TT/TC: adjusted Hazard ratio (HR) = 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04-2.82). The combined analysis of all eight SNPs showed that patients with more than three risk genotypes significantly increased risk of death (adjusted HR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.30-4.58), when compared to those with three or less risk genotypes.

Conclusions: Our findings indicated that genetic variants within mTORC1 genes may predict GC prognosis in Chinese populations. The results need to be validated in future studies with larger sample sizes.

Association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and bladder cancer risk in a sample of Iranian population

In the past few years several investigations have focused on the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and its deregulations in different cancers. This study aimed to examine genetic polymorphisms of this pathway in bladder cancer (BC). In this case-control study, 235 patients with pathologically confirmed bladder cancer and 254 control subjects were examined. PIK3CA, AKT1 and mTOR variants were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The findings proposed that the PIK3CA rs6443624 SNP significantly decreased the risk of BC (OR=0.44, 95 % CI=0.30-0.65, p<0.0001 CA vs CC; OR=0.35, 95 % CI=0.16-0.78, p=0.0107, AA vs CC; OR=0.60, 95 % CI=0.46-0.79, p=0.0002, A vs T). The AKT1 rs2498801 variant is associated with a decreased risk of BC (OR=0.57, 95 % CI=0.39-0.82, p=0.003, AG vs AA; OR=0.74, 95 % CI=0.56-0.97, p=0.032, G vs A) while, AKT1 rs1130233 polymorphism considerably increased the risk of BC (OR=3.70, 95 % CI=2.52-5.43, p<0.0001, GA vs GG; OR=5.81, 95 % CI=1.53-21.97, p=0.010, AA vs GG; OR=2.71, 95 % CI=1.98-3.70, p<0.0001, A vs G). Additionally, mTOR rs2295080 variant notably increased the risk of BC (OR=2.25, 95 % CI=1.50-3.38, p<0.0001, GT vs GG; OR=4.75, 95 % CI=2.80-8.06, p<0.0001, TT vs GG; OR=3.10, 95 % CI=2.34-4.10, p<0.0001, T vs G). None of the other examined polymorphisms (AKT1 rs1130214, AKT1 rs3730358, mTOR rs1883965) revealed significant association with BC. In conclusion, our findings suggest that PIK3CA rs6443624, AKT1 rs2498801, AKT1 rs1130233, as well mTOR rs2295080 polymorphism may be related to bladder cancer development in a sample of Iranian population. Validation of our findings in larger sample sizes of different ethnicities would provide evidence on the role of variants of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in developing BC.

Positive Helicobacter pylori status is associated with better overall survival for gastric cancer patients: evidence from case-cohort studies

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection increases the gastric cancer risk; however, the influences of H. pylori infection status on the outcomes for gastric cancer patients have not yet clearly defined. Herein, we systematically assessed the epidemiological studies regarding the associations between the H.pylori infection status at diagnosis and the prognosis for gastric cancer patients with the meta-analysis methods. Thirty-three eligibility studies with 8,199 participants that had determined the H.pylori infection status and the outcomes for gastric cancer patients were identified through searching the PubMed and MEDLINE databases updated to March 1^st, 2017. The random-effects model suggested that positive H. pylori infection was associated with better overall survival with the pooled hazard ratio (HR) was 0.79 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.66-0.93; Q = 134.86, df = 32, P-heterogeneity < 0.001; I² = 76.3%] compared to negative patients. The association was found to be more prominent in studies with higher quality, longer following-up time and more sensitive detection methods. An inverse but not statistically significant association between the H.pylori status and the disease-free survival of the patients (pooled HR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.61-1.05;Q = 30.48, df = 11, P-heterogeneity = 0.001; I² = 63.9%) was found, while no significant association was noticed in any subgroup analyses. These results suggested that gastric cancer patients with positive H.pylori infection status at diagnosis have better overall survival compared to negative; however, more studies are warranted to confirm the results and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Biologic therapy in esophageal and gastric malignancies: current therapies and future directions

Biologic agents, including targeted antibodies as well as immunomodulators, are demonstrating unparalleled development and study across the entire spectrum of human malignancy. This review summarizes the current state of biologic therapies for esophageal, esophagogastric, and gastric malignancies, including those that target human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), c-Met, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and immunomodulators. We focus primarily on agents that have been included in phase II and III clinical trials in locally advanced, progressive, or metastatic esophageal and gastric malignancies. At this time, only two biologic therapies are recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN): trastuzumab for patients with esophageal/esophagogastric or gastric adenocarcinomas with HER2 overexpression and ramucirumab, a VEGFR-2 inhibitor, as a second-line therapy for metastatic disease. However, recent reports of increases in overall and progression-free survival for agents including pertuzumab, apatinib, and pembrolizumab will likely increase the use of targeted biologic therapy in clinical practice for esophageal and gastric malignancies.

Gene polymorphisms in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway contribute to prostate cancer susceptibility in Chinese men

In this hospital-based case-control study of 413 prostate cancer (PCa) cases and 807 cancer-free controls, we investigated the role of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of pivotal genes in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. We genotyped 17 SNPs in mTOR, Raptor, AKT1, AKT2, PTEN, and K-ras and found that 4 were associated with PCa susceptibility. Among the variants, the homozygote variant CC genotype of mTOR rs17036508 C>T were associated with higher PCa risk than the wild TT genotypes (adjusted OR = 3.73 (95% CI = 1.75-7.94), P = 0.001). The GT genotype of mTOR rs2295080 G>T was more protective than the TT genotypes (adjusted OR=0.54 (95% CI=0.32-0.91), P=0.020). The distributions of Raptor rs1468033 A>G genotypes differed between cases and controls, especially in subgroups defined by age, BMI, smoking status, and ethnicity. The CT/CC genotypes of AKT2 rs7250897 C>T were associated with an increased risk of PCa, particularly in subgroups of age >71 and BMI >24 kg/m². These findings suggest that SNPs in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway may contribute to the risk of PCa in Chinese men.

Helicobacter pylori: A Paradigm Pathogen for Subverting Host Cell Signal Transmission

Helicobacter pylori colonizes the gastric mucosa in the human stomach and represents a major risk factor for peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Here, we summarize our current knowledge of the complex impact of H. pylori on manipulating host signalling networks, that is, by the cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI)-encoded type IV secretion system (T4SS). We show that H. pylori infections reflect a paradigm for interspecies contact-dependent molecular communication, which includes the disruption of cell-cell junctions and cytoskeletal rearrangements, as well as proinflammatory, cell cycle-related, proliferative, antiapoptotic, and DNA damage responses. The contribution of these altered signalling cascades to disease outcome is discussed.

San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang Constituents Exert Drug-Drug Interaction of Mutual Reinforcement at Both Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetic Level: A Review

Inflammatory disorders underlie varieties of human diseases. San-Huang-Xie-xin-Tang (SHXXT), composed with Rhizoma Rhei (Rheum palmatum L.), Rhizoma Coptidis (Coptis chinensis Franch), and Radix Scutellaria (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), is a famous formula which has been widely used in the fight against inflammatory abnormalities. Mutual reinforcement is one of the basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine. Here this article reviewed and analyzed the recent research on (1) How the main constituents of SHXXT impact on inflammation-associated signaling pathway molecules. (2) The interaction between the main constituents and efflux pumps or intestinal transporters. The goal of this work was to, (1) Provide evidence to support the theory of mutual reinforcement. (2) Clarify the key targets of SHXXT and suggest which targets need further investigation. (3) Give advice for the clinical use of SHXXT to elevated the absorption of main constituents and eventually promote oral bioavailability. We search literatures in scientific databases with key words of “each main SHXXT constituent,” in combination with “each main inflammatory pathway target molecule” or each main intestinal transporter, respectively. We report the effect of five main constituents on target molecules which lies in three main inflammatory signaling pathways, we as well investigate the interaction between constituents and intestinal transporter. We conclude, (1) The synergistic effect of constituents at both levels confirm the mutual reinforcement theory of TCM as it is proven in this work. (2) The effect of main constituents on downstream targets in nuclear need more further investigation. (3) Drug elevating the absorption of rhein, berberine and baicalein can be employed to promote oral bioavailability of SHXXT.

Genetic polymorphisms of mTOR and cancer risk: a systematic review and updated meta-analysis

mTOR regulates several cellular processes that are critical for tumorigenesis. However, previous studies on the association of mTOR polymorphisms with predisposition to different cancer types are somewhat contradictory. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and updated meta-analysis of the available evidence regarding the relationship between mTOR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and cancer risk. Up to November 2015, 23 original publications were identified covering 20 mTOR SNPs, of which seven SNPs (rs2536, rs2295080, rs1883965, rs1034528, rs17036508, rs3806317 and rs1064261) were included in the final meta-analysis. We estimated the summary odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mTOR polymorphisms and cancer risk, and used the model-free approach to investigate the biological effect of each polymorphism. Our meta-analysis found that rs1883965, rs1034528, and rs17036508 were correlated with increased cancer risk in the complete over-dominant model (rs1883965 GA versus GG/AA: fixed-effects OR=1.15, 95% CI 1.02-1.29; rs1034528 GC versus GG/CC: fixed-effects OR=1.30, 95% CI 1.13-1.48; rs17036508 TC versus CC/TT: fixed-effects OR=1.23, 95% CI 1.06-1.43). Stratifying analyses by cancer type, we found that the rs2295080 G allele was associated with a significantly higher risk of acute leukemia in the recessive model (GG versus GT/TT: fixed-effects OR=2.08, 95% CI 1.34-3.22) and a lower risk of genitourinary cancers in the dominant model (TG/GG versus TT: fixed-effects OR=0.77, 95% CI 0.68-0.86). Interestingly, further expression analysis showed that homozygous variant genotype carriers of rs1883965, rs1034528 and rs17036508 had lower mTOR transcript levels, based on HapMap data.