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Dual Inhibition of the PI3K/Akt and MEK5/ERK5 Pathways for the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease state with several challenging frontiers. In particular, aberrations in the Phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) and Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways have been linked to increased breast cancer proliferation and survival. It has been proposed that these survival characteristics are enhanced through compensatory signaling and crosstalk mechanisms. New evidence suggests that MEK5/ERK5, a member of the MAPK family, is a crucial component in the proliferation and survival of several aggressive cancers. We hypothesize that inhibiting both PI3K/Akt and MEK5/ERK5 pathways will decrease cell viability while maintaining limited collateral toxicity. In this study, we examined the effects of dual inhibition of PI3K/Akt and MEK5/ERK5 in a panel of hormonally diverse cell lines. Additionally, we investigated dual inhibition in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and tamoxifen resistant models. Both of which do not currently have targeted therapy available. Our results (in TNBC cells) indicate that the dual inhibition strategy was more effective than single inhibition due to the loss of crosstalk between the two pathways. In summary, the results from this study provide a unique perspective into the utility of a novel dual inhibition strategy for targeting TNBCs.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
PhD
Level thesis:degree_level
One-year Embargo
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Pharmacology
Year dc:date.available
2019

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Wright, Thomas Douglas
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Jane E. Cavanaugh
  • Wilson S. Meng
  • Lauren O’Donnell
  • Patrick T. Flaherty
  • Paula A. Witt-Enderby
  • David A. Johnson

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Rights

Language dc:language
United States

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1822
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-2825

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Duquesne
Base URL
dsc.duq.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Wright, Thomas Douglas. Dual Inhibition of the PI3K/Akt and MEK5/ERK5 Pathways for the Treatment of Breast Cancer. One-year Embargo thesis, 2019. https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1822