TY - JOUR AB - 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. AD - Faculty of Pharmacy, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa Department of Pathology, Radiumhospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece Laboratory of Clinical Virology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece AU - Nitulescu,George,Mihai AU - Van De Venter,Maryna AU - Nitulescu,Georgiana AU - Ungurianu,Anca AU - Juzenas,Petras AU - Peng,Qian AU - Olaru,Octavian,Tudorel AU - Grădinaru,Daniela AU - Tsatsakis,Aristides AU - Tsoukalas,Dimitris AU - Spandidos,Demetrios,A. AU - Margina,Denisa DA - 2018/12/01 DO - 10.3892/ijo.2018.4597 EP - 2331 IS - 6 JO - Int J Oncol KW - phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway apoptosis cancer neurodegenerative disease diabetes clinical trial repurposing drugs natural products PY - 2018 SN - 1019-6439 1791-2423 SP - 2319 ST - The Akt pathway in oncology therapy and beyond (Review) T2 - International Journal of Oncology TI - The Akt pathway in oncology therapy and beyond (Review) UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4597 VL - 53 ER -