Targeting Akt Signaling Pathway in Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Advances in Therapeutic Interventions

The Akt/PKB (protein kinase B) is a major transducer of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling axis, regulating key cellular processes such as growth, proliferation, apoptosis, survival, and migration in both normal and cancer cells. In normal cells, oncoproteins and tumor suppressor proteins within the Akt pathway exist in equilibrium. However, this equilibrium is disrupted in cancer cells due to activating mutations in oncoproteins and inactivating mutations in tumor suppressor proteins. This dysregulation drives tumor growth and progression, making the Akt pathway an attractive target for cancer therapies. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the Akt signaling pathway is crucial for developing novel therapeutic agents targeting Akt and its downstream effectors for cancer treatment. This review discusses the role of Akt in cancer, current Akt-targeted agents, their limitations, and future trends.