Bypassing Cisplatin Resistance in Nrf2 Hyperactivated Head and Neck Cancer Through Effective PI3Kinase Targeting

Authors

• Pedram Yadollahi
• Kelli A McCord
• Yang Li
• Hussam Dayoub
• Kalil Saab
• Fonma Essien
• Sean Hyslop
• Emerald Kan
• Kazi M Ahmed
• Parker R Kirby
• Vasanta Putluri
• Chandra Shekar R Ambati
• Karthik Reddy Kami Reddy
• Patricia Castro
• Heath D Skinner
• Cristian Coarfa
• William K Decker
• Abdullah A Osman
• Rutulkumar Patel
• Jeffrey N Myers
• Stephen Y Lai
• Nagireddy Putluri
• Faye M Johnson
• Mitchell J Frederick
• William H Hudson
• Vlad C Sandulache

Language

English

Publication Date

12-1-2025

Journal

British Journal of Cancer

DOI

10.1038/s41416-025-03189-w

PMID

41053162

PMCID

PMC12690143

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

5-1-2026

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

Background: For patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), failure of definitive radiation combined with cisplatin nearly universally results in death. Although hyperactivation of the Nrf2 pathway can drive radiation and cisplatin resistance along with suppressed anti-tumor immunity, treatment-refractory HNSCC tumors may retain sensitivity to targeted agents secondary to synergistic lethality with other oncogenic drivers (e.g., NOTCH1 mutations).

Methods: Using state of the science mechanistic, metabolomic and spatial transcriptomic approaches combined with preclinical models of HNSCC, we tested whether a novel PI3K inhibitor, gedatolisib, can bypass hyperactivation of the Nrf2 pathway.

Results: The PI3K pathway is activated in Nrf2-driven cisplatin-resistant HNSCC and is suitable for blockade, as demonstrated in an in vivo shRNA screen with platinum-based chemotherapy. Gedatolisib effectiveness appears mediated through activation of autophagy, G2/M arrest, senescence and disruption of fatty acid metabolism. Gedatolisib suppresses HNSCC tumor growth in orthotopic and metastatic settings and demonstrates profound anti-tumor activity in humanized murine models of HNSCC, coupled with a reduction in hypoxia-rich regions and reduced infiltration by regulatory T-lymphocytes.

Conclusions: These findings emphasize the critical role of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway in chemo-radiation resistant HNSCC and highlight the therapeutic potential of PI3K inhibitors in a disease that is refractory to all conventional therapeutic approaches.

Keywords

Cisplatin, Humans, Animals, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, Mice, NF-E2-Related Factor 2, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays, Cell Line, Tumor, Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases, Signal Transduction, Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors, Female

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Yadollahi, Pedram; McCord, Kelli A; Li, Yang; et al., "Bypassing Cisplatin Resistance in Nrf2 Hyperactivated Head and Neck Cancer Through Effective PI3Kinase Targeting" (2025). Faculty, Staff and Students Publications. 7001.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/7001