Open Access

The Akt pathway in oncology therapy and beyond (Review)

  • Authors:
    • George Mihai Nitulescu
    • Maryna Van De Venter
    • Georgiana Nitulescu
    • Anca Ungurianu
    • Petras Juzenas
    • Qian Peng
    • Octavian Tudorel Olaru
    • Daniela Grădinaru
    • Aristides Tsatsakis
    • Dimitris Tsoukalas
    • Demetrios A. Spandidos
    • Denisa Margina
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 16, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4597
  • Pages: 2319-2331
  • Copyright: © Nitulescu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Protein kinase B (Akt), similar to many other protein kinases, is at the crossroads of cell death and survival, playing a pivotal role in multiple interconnected cell signaling mechanisms implicated in cell metabolism, growth and division, apoptosis suppression and angiogenesis. Akt protein kinase displays important metabolic effects, among which are glucose uptake in muscle and fat cells or the suppression of neuronal cell death. Disruptions in the Akt‑regulated pathways are associated with cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and neurological diseases. The regulation of the Akt signaling pathway renders Akt a valuable therapeutic target. The discovery process of Akt inhibitors using various strategies has led to the identification of inhibitors with great selectivity, low side‑effects and toxicity. The usefulness of Akt emerges beyond cancer therapy and extends to other major diseases, such as diabetes, heart diseases, or neurodegeneration. This review presents key features of Akt structure and functions, and presents the progress of Akt inhibitors in regards to drug development, and their preclinical and clinical activity in regards to therapeutic efficacy and safety for patients.
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December-2018
Volume 53 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Nitulescu GM, Van De Venter M, Nitulescu G, Ungurianu A, Juzenas P, Peng Q, Olaru OT, Grădinaru D, Tsatsakis A, Tsoukalas D, Tsoukalas D, et al: The Akt pathway in oncology therapy and beyond (Review). Int J Oncol 53: 2319-2331, 2018
APA
Nitulescu, G.M., Van De Venter, M., Nitulescu, G., Ungurianu, A., Juzenas, P., Peng, Q. ... Margina, D. (2018). The Akt pathway in oncology therapy and beyond (Review). International Journal of Oncology, 53, 2319-2331. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4597
MLA
Nitulescu, G. M., Van De Venter, M., Nitulescu, G., Ungurianu, A., Juzenas, P., Peng, Q., Olaru, O. T., Grădinaru, D., Tsatsakis, A., Tsoukalas, D., Spandidos, D. A., Margina, D."The Akt pathway in oncology therapy and beyond (Review)". International Journal of Oncology 53.6 (2018): 2319-2331.
Chicago
Nitulescu, G. M., Van De Venter, M., Nitulescu, G., Ungurianu, A., Juzenas, P., Peng, Q., Olaru, O. T., Grădinaru, D., Tsatsakis, A., Tsoukalas, D., Spandidos, D. A., Margina, D."The Akt pathway in oncology therapy and beyond (Review)". International Journal of Oncology 53, no. 6 (2018): 2319-2331. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4597