Cancer cells with defective RB and CDKN2A are resistant to the apoptotic effects of rapamycin

Inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) with rapamycin in the absence of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) signaling induces apoptosis in many cancer cell lines. In the presence of TGF beta, rapamycin induces G(1) cell cycle arrest; however, in the absence of TGF beta, cells do not arrest in G(1) and progress into S-phase where rapamycin is cytotoxic rather than cytostatic. However, we observed that DU145 prostate and NCI-H2228 lung cancer cells were resistant to the cytotoxic effect of rapamycin. Of interest, the rapamycin-resistant DU145 and NCI-H2228 cells have mutations in the RB and CDKN2A tumor suppressor genes. The gene products of RB and CDKN2A (pRb and p14(ARF)) suppress E2F family transcription factors that promote cell cycle progression from G(1) into S. Restoration of wild type RB or inhibition of E2F activity in DU145 and NCI-H2228 cells led to rapamycin sensitivity. These data provide evidence that the combination of mutant RB and mutant CDKN2A in cancer cells leads to rapamycin resistance, which has implications for precision medicine approaches to anti-cancer therapies.

Automated summary

This study reveals that mutations in the RB and CDKN2A genes in cancer cells lead to resistance to rapamycin, which can be reversed by restoring wild type RB or inhibiting E2F activity. This has important implications for precision medicine approaches to anti-cancer therapies.