Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–Akt signaling pathway (PI3K–Akt pathway)

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–Akt signaling pathway is a central intracellular signaling cascade that regulates multiple biological processes such as cell proliferation, survival, growth, apoptosis, metabolism, cell cycle progression, and cell migration[2][3][5]. This pathway is initiated by the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), which leads to the production of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate and subsequent recruitment and activation of Akt (protein kinase B)[2][5]. Activated Akt phosphorylates various substrates involved in cellular growth, metabolism, and survival, and its dysregulation contributes to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders[2][3]. Aberrant activation of the PI3K–Akt pathway is a common feature in many cancers due to genetic alterations such as PIK3CA mutations or PTEN loss, driving tumor cell growth and resistance to apoptosis[1][2][4][5]. Note: - The PI3K–Akt signaling pathway is a biological pathway, not a single molecule/protein or classical drug target but a collection of functionally connected proteins (notably PI3K, Akt, and downstream effectors)[2][5]. - Individual nodes within the pathway (e.g., PI3K catalytic subunit alpha, Akt1/2/3) are considered therapeutic targets, while the pathway as a whole is not classified as a single target, hence “is_incorrect: true” and “is_target: false.” - No specific drugs, mechanisms of action, or biomarkers are directly assigned to the pathway as a whole but rather to its constituent molecules such as PI3K or Akt[1][3]. - If more granular molecular target information is required, refer to specific proteins (e.g., "PIK3CA" for the alpha PI3K subunit or "AKT1" for the Akt isoform)[1][2][4].

Other names

PI3K/Akt pathwayPI3K/AKT signalingPI3K-Akt pathwayPhosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway