In conclusion, this study sheds light on the potent anti-leukemic characteristics of 10058-F4 and provide an interesting evidence to the application of this agent in combination with PI3K inhibitors especially in acute leukemia with over-activated PI3K, irrespective of PTEN status.
These results may provide a rationale for the development of combined or sequential treatment with PI3K/Akt inhibitors to improve the efficacy of As2O3 on acute leukaemias and also to overcome As2O3 resistance.
Our findings suggest that an up-regulation of the PI3K/AKT1 pathway might be one of the survival mechanisms responsible for the onset of resistance to chemotherapeutic and differentiating therapy in patients with acute leukemia.