Targeting mTOR with MLN0128 Overcomes Rapamycin and Chemoresistant Primary Effusion Lymphoma

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is an aggressive and incurable malignancy, which is usually characterized by lymphomatous effusions in body cavities without tumor masses. PEL has no established treatment and a poor prognosis, with a median survival time shorter than 6 months. PEL usually develops in the context of immunosuppression, such as HIV infection or post-organ transplantation. The optimal treatment for PEL has not been established, as PEL is generally resistant to traditional chemotherapy. The molecular drivers for PEL are still unknown; however, PEL displays a constitutively active mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, which is critical for metabolic and cell survival mechanisms. Therefore, the evaluation of novel agents targeting the mTOR pathway could be clinically relevant for the treatment of PEL.