Akt, or protein kinase B (PKB), is a Ser/Thr protein kinase that phosphorylates a variety of protein substrates to regulate numerous cellular functions. Such as protein synthesis, metabolism, transcription, cellular proliferation, cellular differentiation, migration, and apoptosis (programmed cell death).
PI3K/AKT signalling is commonly disrupted in human cancers, with AKT being a central component of the pathway, influencing multiple processes that are directly involved in tumourigenesis. Targeting AKT is therefore a highly attractive anti-cancer strategy with multiple AKT inhibitors now in various stages of clinical development.
