Triangle of AKT2, miRNA, and Tumorigenesis in Different Cancers

AKT (AK mouse plus Transforming or Thymoma) is a frequent oncogene expressed in most tissues which includes three isoforms AKT1, AKT2, and AKT3. Hyperactivation of AKT signaling is a central key in many human cancer progressions, through modulating angiogenesis, tumor growth, and cell migration, invasion, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Among all three isoforms, AKT2 is most related to cancer cell invasion, metastasis, and survival. Amplification and overexpression of AKT2 have been shown in many cancers. Accumulating evidence shows the potential role of different miRNA involvements in cancer progression by activating or suppressing AKT2 expression. In an in-depth literature review, we focus on the role of AKT2 activation and its consequences on the tumor progression in different cancers. In addition, we describe the function of numerous AKT2-related miRNAs which are important in various cancers as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic markers. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature