Abstract 4666: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and mTOR inhibitors demonstrate broad efficacy and synergy in head and neck cancer cell lines and patient-derived xenografts
Authors: Nichols Anthony C. , Ailkes Laurie , Sun Ren , Black Morgan , Datti Alessandro , Vizeacoumar Frederick , Pinto Nicole , Ruicci Kara , Yoo John , Fung Kevin , MacNeil Danielle , Mymryk Joe , Boutros Paul C. , Barrett John W. 
Published: July 2016

Background: There is an urgent need for improved therapeutics in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) to improve survival and decrease treatment morbidity. The Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is frequently altered in HNSCC, particularly in human papillomavirus (HPV) positive disease. PI3K pathway inhibitors are under active investigation in preclinical models and clinical trials, however it is not clear which patient population will benefit most from these agents.

Methods: Thirty unique HNSCC cell lines including five HPV positive lines were characterized with whole exome sequencing and copy number arrays. All lines were treated over a 10-point dose range with a PIK3CA specific inhibitor (BYL719), a pan PI3K inhibitor (GDC-0941), a combined pan-PI3k and mTOR inhibitor (BEZ-235), mTOR inhibitor (everolimus) and a combination of BYL719 and everolimus. Five unique patient derived xenografts (PDX) were treated with BYL719 and everolimus alone and in combination.

Results: The selective PIK3CA inhibitor BYL719 was preferentially active in cell lines with PIK3CA activating mutations and amplifications (&gt;100% relative PIK3CA amplification), however HRAS mutant lines were resistant. These genomic markers of sensitivity and resistance did not apply to the pan-PI3K inhibitor GDC-0941 or combined PI3K-mTOR inhibitor BEZ-235, however these agents were more active in HPV-positive cell lines (P&lt;0.05). BYL719 and everolimus were individually effective at decreasing tumor growth in four PDX models including a model with an activating PIK3CA mutation, two PIK3CA amplified models and a PIK3CA wild-type model. Combined PIK3CA and mTOR inhibition appeared to be synergistic and evolved resistance never developed to this treatment, however the combination caused significant weight loss in the PDX models.

Interpretation: PI3K inhibitors were broadly active in HNSCC cell lines and PDXs and their application should not be solely restricted to tumors with activating PIK3CA mutations or amplifications. Agents with broader isoform activity and combined PI3K and mTOR treatment were more potent, however combined inhibitor treatment appeared toxic in the PDX models. This trade off of toxicity and efficacy needs to balanced in the clinical setting.

Citation Format: Anthony C. Nichols, Laurie Ailkes, Ren Sun, Morgan Black, Alessandro Datti, Frederick Vizeacoumar, Nicole Pinto, Kara Ruicci, John Yoo, Kevin Fung, Danielle MacNeil, Joe Mymryk, Paul C. Boutros, John W. Barrett. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and mTOR inhibitors demonstrate broad efficacy and synergy in head and neck cancer cell lines and patient-derived xenografts. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4666.