Multiple Roles of the PI3K/PKB (Akt) Pathway in Cell Cycle Progression

As its role in tumor progression emerges, the PI3K/PKB (Akt) pathway presents an appealing cancer therapeutic target. Recent studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying the tumor-promoting effects of this pathway. PKB triggers a network that positively regulates G(1)/S cell cycle progression through inactivation of GSK3-beta, leading to increased cyclin D1, and inhibition of Forkhead family transcription factors and the tumor suppressor tuberin (TSC2), leading to reduction of p27(Kip1). The identification of p21(Waf1/Cip1) and p27(Kip1) as novel substrates of PKB provided new insights into mechanisms whereby hyperactivation of this lipid signaling pathway may lead to cell cycle deregulation in human cancers. The PI3K pathway may also play a key role in the G(2)/M transition and its constitutive activation may lead to defects in DNA damage checkpoint control.