AKT
AKT is a central survival kinase downstream of PI3K, blocked by capivasertib in breast and now prostate cancer.
Capivasertib (Truqap) is approved with fulvestrant in HR+ breast cancer with PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN alterations (CAPItello-291) and, from 2026, with abiraterone in PTEN-deficient metastatic prostate cancer (CAPItello-281).
- Target · the protein and the cell it sits on
- Drug · antibody, small molecule, cell or radioligand
- Effect · signal, damage or kill
In plain words · AKT is a central survival kinase downstream of PI3K, blocked by capivasertib in breast and now prostate cancer.
- 1 · What it is
AKT is a central survival kinase downstream of PI3K, blocked by capivasertib in breast and now prostate cancer.
- 2 · What goes wrong in cancer
Serine/threonine kinase; AKT1 E17K is an activating hotspot.
- 3 · How drugs use it
3 products aim at AKT: small molecules. Kinases are switched on by binding ATP inside the cell, so most drugs are small molecules shaped to plug that ATP pocket.
Biology
Serine/threonine kinase; AKT1 E17K is an activating hotspot.
- Breast
- Prostate (PTEN loss)
- Endometrial
How common it is, by cancer
| Cancer | Prevalence | Measure | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prostate cancer | 15-20% | PTEN loss (pathway activation) | Higher in mCRPC (~40%) | cBioPortal (TCGA) |
| HR-positive / HER2-negative breast cancer | 3-5% | AKT1 E17K | ~50% have PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN alteration combined | cBioPortal (TCGA) |
Approximate, population-level figures; the measure column says what was counted. Ranges show the midpoint as a bar.
Capivasertib (Truqap) is the first AKT inhibitor, for breast cancer with PI3K-pathway mutations and, since 2026, for prostate cancer with PTEN loss.
An mTOR-blocking pill that doubled progression-free time with exemestane in 2012 and is now paired with the oral SERD giredestrant.
An intravenous drug that blocks the whole PI3K/mTOR pathway, approved in July 2026 for hormone-positive breast cancer.
Latest papers
topQuery for this target: (TITLE:"AKT" OR ABSTRACT:"AKT" OR TITLE:"AKT1" OR ABSTRACT:"AKT1") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about AKT, not a curated reading list.
Pages like this
not linked directly; found by shared links- TargetCDK4/6
Shares Hallmark: evading growth suppressors, Small-molecule kinase inhibitors, HR-positive / HER2-negative breast cancer and the tag kinase.
- TargetBTK (Bruton tyrosine kinase)
Shares PI3K / AKT / mTOR and the tag kinase.
- TargetPIK3CA / PI3K-alpha
Shares CAPItello-291, Gedatolisib, Ramon E. Parsons, mRNA translation (eIF4F / mTOR) and the tag kinase.
- TargetALK
Shares The blood–brain barrier & brain metastasis, PI3K / AKT / mTOR, Small-molecule kinase inhibitors and the tag kinase.
- TargetFGFR2
Shares PI3K / AKT / mTOR, Small-molecule kinase inhibitors and the tag kinase.
- TargetKIT
Shares PI3K / AKT / mTOR, Small-molecule kinase inhibitors and the tag kinase.
- TargetROS1
Shares PI3K / AKT / mTOR and the tag kinase.
- TargetFLT3
Shares Small-molecule kinase inhibitors and the tag kinase.