Title:Roles of EGFR, PI3K, AKT, and mTOR in Heavy Metal-Induced Cancer
Volume: 13
Issue: 3
Author(s): Richard L. Carpenter and Bing-Hua Jiang
Affiliation:
Keywords:
AKT, Arsenic, cadmium, cancer, chromium, EGFR, mTOR, nickel, PI3K, p70S6K1
Abstract: Humans are exposed to heavy metals through a variety of occupational and non-occupational means. Growing
evidence has accumulated that prolonged exposure to these heavy metals is associated with cancer occurrence at various
body sites including lung, liver, bladder, colon, and skin. Much research effort has been placed on discovering the
mechanisms by which heavy metals induce different kinds of cancers. Results from these mechanistic studies have varied
for different metals, but increased activation of signaling pathways is often observed. This review will focus on the
signaling molecules including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K), AKT, and
mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in carcinogenesis and cancer progression; and how these molecules are affected
by the exposure to heavy metals: arsenic, chromium, nickel, and cadmium. Furthermore, drug targets for the prevention
and therapy of cancers induced by heavy metals will be discussed with a focus on drugs that are currently in clinical trials
for these targets.
