Divergent Roles of PI3K Isoforms in PTEN-Deficient Glioblastomas

Highlights

• p110α and p110β isoforms of PI3K play divergent roles in PTEN-deficient GBM

• PTEN null GBM cells mainly rely on p110α for proliferation and p110β for migration

• Blockade of both p110α and p110β is necessary to effectively inhibit PTEN null GBM

• The failure of BKM120 in the clinic is likely due to its weak inhibition of p110β

Summary

Loss of PTEN, the negative regulator of PI3K activity, is frequent in glioblastomas (GBMs). However, the role of the two major PI3K isoforms, p110α and p110β, in PTEN-deficient gliomagenesis remains unknown. We show that PTEN-deficient GBM largely depends on p110α for proliferation and p110β for migration. Genetic ablation of either isoform delays tumor progression in mice, but only ablating both isoforms completely blocks GBM driven by the concurrent ablation of Pten and p53. BKM120 (buparlisib) treatment only modestly prolongs survival in mice bearing intracranial Pten/p53 null tumors due to partial pathway inhibition. BKM120 extends the survival of mice bearing intracranial tumors in which p110β, but not p110α, has been genetically ablated in the Pten/p53 null glioma, indicating that BKM120 fails to inhibit p110β effectively. Our study suggests that the failure of PI3K inhibitors in GBM may be due to insufficient inhibition of p110β and indicates a need to develop brain-penetrant p110α/β inhibitors.