Fig. 1.
Activation of AKT mediates therapy resistance in solid tumors. Ionizing radiation, chemotherapy agents, and ligand-induced activation of membrane-bound receptors induce activation of AKT. AKT activity stimulates DNA repair leading to inhibition of apoptosis (induced by chemotherapy) and preventing mitotic catastrophe (induced by irradiation). IR-induced AKT activation in nuclear fraction is independent of AKT phosphorylation in cytoplasmic fraction. Please see the text for more details on the depicted signaling pathways.