Investigational PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors in development for endometrial cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common neoplasm of the female genital tract in developed countries. Despite the progress in early detection and treatment, a significant number of cases of advanced ECs are still diagnosed. These patients have few treatment options and a poor prognosis. Our understanding of EC pathogenesis and progression has been enhanced by recent genomic studies. Among the relevant biological pathways, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT (PIK3/AKT)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is frequently upregulated in this cancer.

Areas covered: This review covers investigational EC therapeutics acting on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The authors review the results of clinical studies and highlight ongoing trials.

Expert opinion: Several new agents are under evaluation for treating patients with metastatic, recurrent, and persistent EC. Clinical trials investigating PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors have yielded controversial results. In the near future, new studies with dual inhibitors or multi-pathways inhibitors as mono or combination therapies with conventional chemotherapy (CT) or other targeted drugs may provide more promising data. Moreover, the evaluation of new serum and histological biomarkers is an attractive strategy for patient selection.

Keywords: AKT; Endometrial cancer; PI3K; PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway; mTOR; targeted therapy.