Molecules and cells

0219-10324262019Jun30Molecules and cellsMol CellsCombination Therapy with a PI3K/mTOR Dual Inhibitor and Chloroquine Enhances Synergistic Apoptotic Cell Death in Epstein-Barr Virus-Infected Gastric Cancer Cells.448459448-45910.14348/molcells.2019.2395The phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signaling pathway is a promising target for gastric cancer (GC) treatment; however the efficacy of PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitors in GC has not yet been maximized. Additionally, the effect of autophagy regulation by PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitors has not been clearly elucidated in GC treatment. We aimed to show that our newly developed PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor, CMG002, when combined with an autophagy inhibitor, chloroquine (CQ), potently induces effective cancer cell death in Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) cells, where both the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and autophagy pathways play important roles in disease pathogenesis. EBV- and mock-infected AGS and NUGC3 GC cell lines were treated with CMG002 +/− CQ. PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway mediators, cellular apoptosis and autophagy markers were confirmed by Western blot assay. Cell viability was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. CMG002 effectively blocked the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway by markedly decreasing phosphorylation of AKT and its downstream mediator S6. CMG002 induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and enhanced apoptotic cell death in AGS and NUGC3 cells, particularly EBV-infected cells compared with mock-infected cells, as confirmed by flow cytometric analyses and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assays. The combination of CMG002 plus CQ synergistically increased apoptotic cell death in EBV-infected GC cell lines when compared with CMG002 alone (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that the new PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor, CMG002, when used in combination with the autophagy inhibitor, CQ, provides enhanced therapeutic efficacy against EBVaGC.KimMi-YoungMYDigestive Disease Center.Liver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.KrugerAnnie JAJLiver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.Division of Gastroenterology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20007, USA.JeongJu-YeonJYInstitute for Clinical Research, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea.KimJaeheeJInstitute for Clinical Research, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea.ShinPhil KyungPKInstitute for Clinical Research, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam 13496, Korea.KimSun YoungSYDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea.ChoJoo YoungJYDigestive Disease Center.HahmKi BaikKBDigestive Disease Center.HongSung PyoSPDigestive Disease Center.engF32 DK109658DKNIDDK NIH HHSUnited StatesJournal Article