The AKT pathway plays a key role in the regulation of cellular survival, apoptosis, and protein translation and has been shown to have prognostic significance in a number of cancers. Recently, the inventors have identified several functions of the AKT pathway in certain cancers, such as extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC).
The NCI seeks partners to license or co-develop this technology, which describes compositions, methods and kits for identifying, characterizing biomolecules expressed in a sample that are associated with the presence, the development, or progression of cancer. Utilizing multiplex tissue immunoblotting, the inventors have demonstrated that PTEN expression, PTEN/p-AKT ratios, and PTEN/p-mTOR ratios can predict the survival of cancer patients. These biomarkers may provide useful diagnostic information for cancer patients as well as identify patients appropriate for mTOR analog-based chemotherapy or agents directed against AKT.