Functional specificity of Akt isoforms in cancer progression

Akt/PKB kinases are central mediators of cell homeostasis. There are three highly homologous Akt isoforms, Akt1/PKBα, Akt2/PKBβ and Akt3/PKBγ. Hyperactivation of Akt signaling is a key node in the progression of a variety of human cancer, by modulating tumor growth, chemoresistance and cancer cell m...

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Main Authors: Fortier Anne-Marie, Asselin Eric, Cadrin Monique
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2011-04-01
Series:Biomolecular Concepts
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/bmc.2011.003
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author Fortier Anne-Marie
Asselin Eric
Cadrin Monique
author_facet Fortier Anne-Marie
Asselin Eric
Cadrin Monique
author_sort Fortier Anne-Marie
collection DOAJ
description Akt/PKB kinases are central mediators of cell homeostasis. There are three highly homologous Akt isoforms, Akt1/PKBα, Akt2/PKBβ and Akt3/PKBγ. Hyperactivation of Akt signaling is a key node in the progression of a variety of human cancer, by modulating tumor growth, chemoresistance and cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis. It is now clear that, to understand the mechanisms on how Akt affects specific cancer cells, it is necessary to consider the relative importance of each of the three Akt isoforms in the altered cells. Akt1 is involved in tumor growth, cancer cell invasion and chemoresistance and is the predominant altered isoform found in various carcinomas. Akt2 is related to cancer cell invasion, metastasis and survival more than tumor induction. Most of the Akt2 alterations are observed in breast, ovarian, pancreatic and colorectal carcinomas. As Akt3 expression is limited to some tissues, its implication in tumor growth and resistance to drugs mostly occurs in melanomas, gliomas and some breast carcinomas. To explain how Akt isoforms can play different or even opposed roles, three mechanisms have been proposed: tissue-specificity expression/activation of Akt isoforms, distinct effect on same substrate as well as specific localization through the cyto-skeleton network. It is becoming clear that to develop an effective anticancer Akt inhibitor drug, it is necessary to target the specific Akt isoform which promotes the progression of the specific tumor.
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spelling doaj.art-9c8307b1392c45d8a8c74324be08bcf22022-12-21T22:37:05ZengDe GruyterBiomolecular Concepts1868-50211868-503X2011-04-0121-211110.1515/bmc.2011.003Functional specificity of Akt isoforms in cancer progressionFortier Anne-Marie0Asselin Eric1Cadrin Monique2Molecular Oncology and Endocrinology Research Group, Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Québec at Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières G9A 5H7, Québec, CanadaMolecular Oncology and Endocrinology Research Group, Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Québec at Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières G9A 5H7, Québec, CanadaMolecular Oncology and Endocrinology Research Group, Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Québec at Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières G9A 5H7, Québec, CanadaAkt/PKB kinases are central mediators of cell homeostasis. There are three highly homologous Akt isoforms, Akt1/PKBα, Akt2/PKBβ and Akt3/PKBγ. Hyperactivation of Akt signaling is a key node in the progression of a variety of human cancer, by modulating tumor growth, chemoresistance and cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis. It is now clear that, to understand the mechanisms on how Akt affects specific cancer cells, it is necessary to consider the relative importance of each of the three Akt isoforms in the altered cells. Akt1 is involved in tumor growth, cancer cell invasion and chemoresistance and is the predominant altered isoform found in various carcinomas. Akt2 is related to cancer cell invasion, metastasis and survival more than tumor induction. Most of the Akt2 alterations are observed in breast, ovarian, pancreatic and colorectal carcinomas. As Akt3 expression is limited to some tissues, its implication in tumor growth and resistance to drugs mostly occurs in melanomas, gliomas and some breast carcinomas. To explain how Akt isoforms can play different or even opposed roles, three mechanisms have been proposed: tissue-specificity expression/activation of Akt isoforms, distinct effect on same substrate as well as specific localization through the cyto-skeleton network. It is becoming clear that to develop an effective anticancer Akt inhibitor drug, it is necessary to target the specific Akt isoform which promotes the progression of the specific tumor.https://doi.org/10.1515/bmc.2011.003akt/pkb isoformschemoresistanceintermediate filaments cytoskeletoninvasiontumor growth
spellingShingle Fortier Anne-Marie
Asselin Eric
Cadrin Monique
Functional specificity of Akt isoforms in cancer progression
Biomolecular Concepts
akt/pkb isoforms
chemoresistance
intermediate filaments cytoskeleton
invasion
tumor growth
title Functional specificity of Akt isoforms in cancer progression
title_full Functional specificity of Akt isoforms in cancer progression
title_fullStr Functional specificity of Akt isoforms in cancer progression
title_full_unstemmed Functional specificity of Akt isoforms in cancer progression
title_short Functional specificity of Akt isoforms in cancer progression
title_sort functional specificity of akt isoforms in cancer progression
topic akt/pkb isoforms
chemoresistance
intermediate filaments cytoskeleton
invasion
tumor growth
url https://doi.org/10.1515/bmc.2011.003
work_keys_str_mv AT fortierannemarie functionalspecificityofaktisoformsincancerprogression
AT asselineric functionalspecificityofaktisoformsincancerprogression
AT cadrinmonique functionalspecificityofaktisoformsincancerprogression