PI3K and STAT3: a new alliance

Cancer Discov. 2011 Nov;1(6):481-6. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-11-0218.

Abstract

Recent proteomic data have uncovered an interdependence of PI3K and STAT3. In PI3K-tranformed murine cells, STAT3 is phosphorylated on Y705 and activated in a PI3K-dependent manner. Dominant negative STAT3 interferes with PI3K-induced oncogenic transformation. Phosphorylation of STAT3 in PI3K-transformed murine cells is mediated by the TEC kinase BMX. Observations on glioblastoma stem cells reveal similar critical roles for STAT3 and BMX. The new data document an important role of STAT3 in PI3K-driven oncogenic transformation and mark BMX as a promising therapeutic target that could enhance the effectiveness of PI3K inhibitors.

Significance: The PI3K–TOR and STAT3 signaling pathways represent two distinct regulatory networks. The discovery of a functional link between these pathways is significant for our understanding of PI3K- and STAT3-driven oncogenic mechanisms and identifies the TEC kinase BMX as a new cancer target.

Keywords: BMX; PH domain; SILAC; TEC kinase; TOR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Tec protein-tyrosine kinase
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases