Potent antitumour of the mTORC1/2 dual inhibitor AZD2014 in docetaxel-sensitive and docetaxel-resistant castration-resistant prostate cancer cells

J Cell Mol Med. 2021 Mar;25(5):2436-2449. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.16155. Epub 2021 Jan 28.

Abstract

Recent studies indicate mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) may play an important role in PCa progression and drug resistance. Here, we investigated the effects of a novel mTORC1/C2 dual inhibitor, AZD2014, on naive and docetaxel (Doc)-pre-treated castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) cells and explored its therapeutic potential in CRPCs. In the current study, AZD2014 has a greater inhibitory effect against 4EBP1 and AKT phosphorylation than rapamycin in CRPC cells and prevented the feedback activation of AKT signalling. Importantly, AZD2014 suppressed CRPC cell growth in vitro by suppressing proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and autophagy to a greater extent than rapamycin. Moreover, AZD2014 was more efficacious than rapamycin in inhibiting migration, invasion and EMT progression in Doc-sensitive and Doc-resistant CRPC cells. Overall, AZD2014 showed significant antitumour effects. Thereby, the current study highlights a reliable theoretical basis for the clinical application of AZD2014 in both Doc-sensitive and Doc-resistant CRPCs.

Keywords: AZD2014; antitumour; castration-resistant prostate cancer; docetaxel; mTORC1 and 2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Autophagy / drug effects
  • Benzamides / pharmacology*
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Docetaxel / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Male
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Morpholines / pharmacology*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Morpholines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • vistusertib
  • Docetaxel
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2