The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a major sensor of nutrients and energy and is part of two multiprotein complexes mTORC1 and mTORC2. mTOR activation is widely reported in cancer and is associated with poor prognosis and resistance to standard of care treatment. Allosteric inhibitors of mTOR such as rapamycin partially inhibit mTORC1 and do not inhibit mTORC2. AZD2014 is a close analogue of AZD8055 and a selective inhibitor of mTOR kinase. AZD2014 has greater inhibitory activity against mTORC1 compared to rapamycin: AZD2014 decreases p4EBP1 Thr37/46, inhibits the translation initiation complex and decreases overall protein synthesis while rapamycin has no effect. AZD2014 also inhibits the mTORC2 biomarkers pAKTSer473 and pNDRG1Thr346. AZD2014 has broad antiproliferative activity across multiple tumour cell lines. In particular, AZD2014 induces growth inhibition and cell death in breast cancer cell lines, including ER+ cell lines with acquired resistance to hormone therapy. In vitro, the potency of AZD2014 is ∼ 5-fold lower compared to AZD8055. However, AZD2014 has improved pharmacokinetics compared to AZD8055. In vivo, AZD2014 induces tumour growth inhibition against several xenograft models including a human primary explant model of ER+ breast cancer refractory to tamoxifen. The antitumour activity is associated with modulation of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 substrates. Overall, AZD2014 is a potent mTOR kinase inhibitor with an in vitro profile comparable to AZD8055 but with improved pharmacokinetic properties over AZD8055. AZD2014 is currently in phase 1 clinical trials.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 917. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-917

©2012 American Association for Cancer Research
2012