Outlook on PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibition in acute leukemia

Abstract

Technological advances allowing high throughput analyses across numerous cancer tissues have allowed much
progress in understanding complex cellular signaling. In the future, the genetic landscape in cancer may have more
clinical relevance than diagnosis based on tumor origin. This progress has emphasized PI3K/AKT/mTOR, among
others, as a central signaling center of cancer development due to its governing control in cellular growth, survival,
and metabolism. The discovery of high frequencies of mutations in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in different cancer
entities has sparked interest to inhibit elements of this pathway. In acute leukemia pharmacological interruption has
yet to achieve desirable efficacy as targetable downstream mutations in PI3K/AKT/mTOR are absent. Nevertheless,
mutations in membrane-associated genes upstream of PI3K/AKT/mTOR are frequent in acute leukemia and are
associated with aberrant activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR thus providing a good rationale for further exploration. This
review attempts to summarize key findings leading to aberrant activation and to reflect on both promises and
challenges of targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR in acute leukemia. Our emphasis lies on the insights gained through
high-throughput data acquisition that open up new avenues for identifying specific subgroups of acute leukemia as
ideal candidates for PI3K/AKT/mTOR targeted therapy.