Arsenic trioxide and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/akt pathway in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

ABSTRACT

Simultaneous targeting of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway increases arsenic trioxide (ATO)-dependent cytotoxicity of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, whereas it has no significant effects on normal lymphocytes. Combinations of ATO with small molecules that target PI3K and/or Akt may provide a novel approach for the treatment of CLL.