Assessment of AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway Components in Kidney Cancers and Their Connection with Metastases

Spirina L.V., Usynin E.A., Yurmazov Z.A., Kondakova I.V., Slonimskaya E.M.

Key words: kidney cancer; AKT/mTOR signaling pathway; mTOR; PTEN phosphatase; AKT; GSK-3beta; PDK1; c-RAF; p70 S6 kinase; 4E-BP1.

2019, volume 11, issue 4, page 74.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17691/stm2019.11.4.08

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The aim of the study was to assess gene expression of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway components in the molecular mechanisms of kidney cancer development and progression.

Material and Methods. The subject of the study was a tumor and non-transformed tissue of 34 patients with clear cell kidney cancer T_1–3N_0–1M_0–1. The mRNA level of PTEN, AKT, GSK-3beta, PDK1, c-RAF, mTOR, p70 S6 kinase, 4E-BP1 was studied by real-time PCR, the content of the parameters studied was determined by Western blotting.

Results. The AKT, PTEN mRNA levels, and the protein content were associated with the development of hematogenous metastasis. The increase of AKT content and expression is associated with the decrease in mRNA and protein level of PTEN phosphatase. The specificity of mRNA translation in the tumor tissue has been shown to determine the development of the disease as well. The correlation analysis did not find direct relationship between the level of expression of the studied genes and their protein products.

Conclusion. Molecular mechanisms of tumor progression are associated with gene expression and protein content. The change in AKT, PTEN, 4E-BP1, and GSK-3beta mRNA levels has been found to lead to the development of a metastatic process in kidney cancer.

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Spirina L.V., Usynin E.A., Yurmazov Z.A., Kondakova I.V., Slonimskaya E.M. Assessment of AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway Components in Kidney Cancers and Their Connection with Metastases. Sovremennye tehnologii v medicine 2019; 11(4): 74, https://doi.org/10.17691/stm2019.11.4.08