mTOR Signalling Pathway-protein Expression in Post-transplant Cutaneous Squamous-cell Carcinomas Before and After Conversion to mTOR-inhibitors

Anticancer Research
Triantafyllia KoletsaJ Kanitakis

Abstract

Inhibitors of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTORis) exert immunosuppressive and antitumor effects and are used in organ-transplant recipients (OTR) as immunosuppressants able to reduce skin tumor burden. This study investigated the effects of mTORis on the expression of mTOR pathway proteins in cutaneous squamous-cell carcinomas (SCC) developing in OTR, before and after switching to mTORis. An immunohistochemical study was performed on 23 SCC sections excised from OTR with post-transplant SCC, before or after switch to mTORis, with antibodies against pAkt, pmTOR and PI3K. pmTOR expression was found in 8/12 SCC pre-switch, and in 8/11 SCC post-switch, to mTORis. All (but 2) SCC expressed PI3K, and all SCCs expressed pAkt. mTORis do not significantly change the immunohistochemical expression of molecules upstream of the mTOR inhibition (pmTOR, PI3K, pAkt), in cutaneous SCC.

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