Regulation and Importance of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Hematologic Malignancies

Title: Regulation and Importance of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Hematologic Malignancies

Volume: 9 Issue: 9

Author(s): Kiyotaka Kawauchi, Toshie Ogasawara, Masako Yasuyama, Kuniaki Otsuka and Osamu Yamada

Affiliation:

Keywords: PI3K, Akt, mTOR, hematologic malignancies

Abstract: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), a heterodimeric lipid kinase, is a key enzyme in signal transduction from various stimuli to downstream pathways that elicit diverse responses involving growth, proliferation, survival, differentiation, and metabolism in many cellular systems. Activated PI3K generates phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate, which recruits phosphatidylinositol-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1) and Akt serine/threonine kinase at the plasma membrane, resulting in activation of Akt. In turn, Akt activates multiple downstream targets, most notably the mTOR pathway. There is abundant evidence implicating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in the development and progression of a variety of tumors including hematologic neoplasms. Therefore, this pathway is considered a critical target for cancer therapy. We review the regulatory mechanisms of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and the role of this pathway in oncogenesis of hematological malignancies.

Cite this article as:

Kawauchi Kiyotaka, Ogasawara Toshie, Yasuyama Masako, Otsuka Kuniaki and Yamada Osamu, Regulation and Importance of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Hematologic Malignancies, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2009; 9 (9) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152009789377772