Department of Biotechnology
inStem (Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine)

Urolithin A, a Novel Natural Compound to Target PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Pancreatic Cancer.

Publication Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

February 1, 2019

Journal

Molecular cancer therapeutics

Volume/Issue

18/2

ISSN

1538-8514

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy and is highly resistant to standard treatment regimens. Targeted therapies against , a mutation present in an overwhelming majority of PDAC cases, have been largely ineffective. However, inhibition of downstream components in the KRAS signaling cascade provides promising therapeutic targets in the management of PDAC and warrants further exploration. Here, we investigated Urolithin A (Uro A), a novel natural compound derived from pomegranates, which targets numerous kinases downstream of KRAS, in particular the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. We showed that treatment of PDAC cells with Uro A blocked the phosphorylation of AKT and p70S6K successfully inhibited the growth of tumor xenografts, and increased overall survival of Ptf1a;LSL-Kras;Tgfbr2 (PKT) mice compared with vehicle or gemcitabine therapy alone. Histologic evaluation of these Uro A-treated tumor samples confirmed mechanistic actions of Uro A via decreased phosphorylation of AKT and p70S6K, reduced proliferation, and increased cellular apoptosis in both xenograft and PKT mouse models. In addition, Uro A treatment reprogrammed the tumor microenvironment, as evidenced by reduced levels of infiltrating immunosuppressive cell populations such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and regulatory T cells. Overall, this work provides convincing preclinical evidence for the utility of Uro A as a therapeutic agent in PDAC through suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Alternate Journal

Mol Cancer Ther

PubMed ID

30404927

PubMed Central ID

PMC6363854

Authors

Tulasigeri M Totiger
Supriya Srinivasan
Venkatakrishna R Jala
Purushottam Lamichhane
Austin R Dosch
Alexander A Gaidarski
Chandrashekhar Joshi
Shobith Rangappa
Jason Castellanos
Praveen Kumar Vemula
Xi Chen
Deukwoo Kwon
Nilesh Kashikar
Michael VanSaun
Nipun B Merchant
Nagaraj S Nagathihalli

Keywords

Animals
Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
Signal Transduction
Cell Survival
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
Cell Proliferation
Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal
Mice
Lythraceae
Humans
Pancreatic Neoplasms
Coumarins
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
Cell Line, Tumor
Phosphorylation