Pearson correlation was used to determine associations between overall survival from OVCA and therapy response. Genes and represented signaling pathways associated with perifosine-response were explored in OVCA cells (n = 10) and the NCI60 cancer cell panel. Pathway expressions, modeled by PCA, were evaluated for influences on survival using publically available clinico-genomic datasets.
Phospho-AKT (serine473) expression correlated with survival from OVCA (P < 0.05) and platinum-response (P = 0.004). In vitro, perifosine showed anti-proliferative effects against OVCA cells and potentiated cisplatin-induced growth arrest. Perifosine-response was associated with the expression (FDR < 0.05) of 7 signaling pathways in OVCA cells and 64 signaling pathways in the NCI60 cell panel. Three pathways were found in common: 1) Cytoskeleton remodeling/cytoskeleton remodeling (cyto), 2) cell adhesion/chemokines and adhesion (chemokines), and 3) cytoskeleton remodeling/TGF-WNT (TGF-WNT). The TGF-WNT was associated with survival from OVCA (P = 0.0055).
AKT signaling is an important determinant of OVCA response to chemotherapy and overall patient survival. Our data provide insight into the molecular basis to perifosine activity and identifies pathways associated with perifosine sensitivity and patient clinical outcome.