Open AccessAkt inhibition improves long‐term tumour control following radiotherapy by altering the microenvironment
Author(s) -
Searle Emma J,
Telfer Brian A,
Mukherjee Debayan,
Forster Duncan M,
Davies Barry R,
Williams Kaye J,
Stratford Ian J,
Illidge Tim M
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
embo molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.923
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1757-4684
pISSN - 1757-4676
DOI - 10.15252/emmm.201707767
Subject(s) - library science , pharmacy , medicine , research centre , biomedical sciences , family medicine , nursing , computer science
Radiotherapy is an important anti‐cancer treatment, but tumour recurrence remains a significant clinical problem. In an effort to improve outcomes further, targeted anti‐cancer drugs are being tested in combination with radiotherapy. Here, we have studied the effects of Akt inhibition with AZD5363. AZD5363 administered as an adjuvant after radiotherapy to FaDu and PE/CA PJ34 tumours leads to long‐term tumour control, which appears to be secondary to effects on the irradiated tumour microenvironment. AZD5363 reduces the downstream effectors VEGF and HIF‐1α, but has no effect on tumour vascularity or oxygenation, or on tumour control, when administered prior to radiotherapy. In contrast, AZD5363 given after radiotherapy is associated with marked reductions in tumour vascular density, a decrease in the influx of CD11b + myeloid cells and a failure of tumour regrowth. In addition, AZD5363 is shown to inhibit the proportion of proliferating tumour vascular endothelial cells in vivo, which may contribute to improved tumour control with adjuvant treatment. These new insights provide promise to improve outcomes with the addition of AZD5363 as an adjuvant therapy following radiotherapy.