Combined inhibition of ACK1 and AKT shows potential toward targeted therapy against KRAS-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer

Authors

  • Xiangjing Yu Clinical Laboratory, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4674-0739
  • Jie Liu Clinical Laboratory, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
  • Huawei Qiu Clinical Laboratory, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
  • Huiting Hao Clinical Laboratory, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
  • Jinhong Zhu Clinical Laboratory, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0408-3101
  • Shiyun Peng Precision Medicine Center, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17305/bjbms.2020.4746

Keywords:

KRAS mutation, NSCLC, drug combination, Chou-Talalay, synergistic effect

Abstract

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with Kirsten RAt Sarcoma 2 viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutation has become a clinical challenge in cancer treatment as KRAS-mutant tumors are often resistant to conventional anti-tumor therapies. Activated CDC42-associated kinase 1 (ACK1), an activator of protein kinase B (AKT), is a promising target for KRAS-mutant tumor therapy, but the downstream ACK1 signaling remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of combined ACK1/AKT inhibition on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of KRAS-mutant NSCLC cell lines (NCI-H23, NCI-H358, and A549). The cells were treated with an inhibitor of either ACK1 (dasatinib or sunitinib) or AKT (MK-2206 or GDC-0068), and the optimal concentrations of the two yielding synergistic tumor-killing effects were determined by applying the Chou-Talalay equation for drug combinations. We showed that combined administration of ACK1 and AKT inhibitors at the optimal concentrations effectively suppressed NSCLC cell viability and promoted apoptosis while inducing cell cycle arrest at the G2 phase. Moreover, NSCLC cell migration and invasion were inhibited by combined ACK1/AKT inhibition. These phenomena were associated with the reduced phosphorylation levels of ACK1 and AKT (at Ser473 and Thr308), as well as alterations in caspase-dependent apoptotic signaling. Collectively, our results demonstrate the promising therapeutic potential of combined ACK1/AKT inhibition as a strategy against KRAS-mutant NSCLC. Our findings provide the basis for the clinical translation of biological targeted drugs (ACK1 and AKT inhibitors) and their rational combination in cancer treatment.

Combined inhibition of ACK1 and AKT shows potential toward targeted therapy against KRAS-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer

Downloads

Additional Files

Published

01-04-2021

How to Cite

1.
Combined inhibition of ACK1 and AKT shows potential toward targeted therapy against KRAS-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer. Biomol Biomed [Internet]. 2021 Apr. 1 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];21(2):198-207. Available from: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/4746