Inhibition of the mTORC1 pathway suppresses intestinal polyp formation and reduces mortality in ApcΔ716 mice

T Fujishita, K Aoki, HA Lane, M Aoki… - Proceedings of the …, 2008 - National Acad Sciences
T Fujishita, K Aoki, HA Lane, M Aoki, MM Taketo
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2008National Acad Sciences
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates cell
growth via mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), whose activation has been implicated in many
human cancers. However, mTORC1's status in gastrointestinal tumors has not been
characterized thoroughly. We have found that the mTORC1 pathway is activated with
increased expression of the mTOR protein in intestinal polyps of the Apc Δ716 heterozygous
mutant mouse, a model for human familial adenomatous polyposis. An 8-week treatment …
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates cell growth via mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), whose activation has been implicated in many human cancers. However, mTORC1's status in gastrointestinal tumors has not been characterized thoroughly. We have found that the mTORC1 pathway is activated with increased expression of the mTOR protein in intestinal polyps of the ApcΔ716 heterozygous mutant mouse, a model for human familial adenomatous polyposis. An 8-week treatment with RAD001 (everolimus) suppressed the mTORC1 activity in these polyps and inhibited proliferation of the adenoma cells as well as tumor angiogenesis, which significantly reduced not only the number of polyps but also their size. β-Catenin knockdown in the colon cancer cell lines reduced the mTOR level and thereby inhibited the mTORC1 signaling. These results suggest that the Wnt signaling contributes to mTORC1 activation through the increased level of mTOR and that the activation plays important roles in the intestinal polyp formation and growth. Indeed, long-term RAD001 treatment significantly reduced mortality of the ApcΔ716 mice. Thus, we propose that the mTOR inhibitors may be efficacious for therapy and prevention of colonic adenomas and cancers with Wnt signaling activation.
National Acad Sciences