Role of PI3K/AKT pathway in cancer: the framework of malignant behavior

CHRDL2 promotes osteosarcoma cell proliferation and metastasis through the BMP-9/PI3K/AKT pathway

Various studies demonstrated that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and their antagonists contribute to the development of cancers. Chordin-like 2 (CHRDL2) is a member of BMP antagonists. However, the role and its relative mechanism of CHRDL2 in osteosarcoma remains unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that the expression of CHRDL2 was significantly upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines compared with adjacent tissues and human normal osteoblast. Inhibition of CHRDL2 decreased the proliferation and colony formation of osteosarcoma cells in vitro, as well as the migration and invasion. CHRDL2 overexpression induced the opposite effects. CHRDL2 can bind with BMP-9, thus decreasing BMP-9 expression and the combination to its receptor protein kinase ALK1. It was predicted that BMP-9 regulates PI3K/AKT pathways using gene set enrichment analysis. Inhibition of CHRDL2 decreased the activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, while overexpression of CHRDL2 upregulated the activation. Increasing the expression of BMP-9 reversed the effects of CHRDL2 overexpression on the activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, as well as the proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells. Take together, our present study revealed that CHRDL2 upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines, and promoted osteosarcoma cell proliferation and metastasis through the BMP-9/PI3K/AKT pathway. CHRDL2 maybe an oncogene in osteosarcoma, as well as novel biomarker for the diagnosis of osteosarcoma.

Omics Analysis of Educated Platelets in Cancer and Benign Disease of the Pancreas

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is traditionally associated with thrombocytosis/hypercoagulation and novel insights on platelet-PDAC "dangerous liaisons" are warranted. Here we performed an integrative omics study investigating the biological processes of mRNAs and expressed miRNAs, as well as proteins in PDAC blood platelets, using benign disease as a reference for inflammatory noise. Gene ontology mining revealed enrichment of RNA splicing, mRNA processing and translation initiation in miRNAs and proteins but depletion in RNA transcripts. Remarkably, correlation analyses revealed a negative regulation on SPARC transcription by isomiRs involved in cancer signaling, suggesting a specific "education" in PDAC platelets. Platelets of benign patients were enriched for non-templated additions of G nucleotides (#ntaG) miRNAs, while PDAC presented length variation on 3' (lv3p) as the most frequent modification on miRNAs. Additionally, we provided an actionable repertoire of PDAC and benign platelet-ome to be exploited for future studies. In conclusion, our data show that platelets change their biological repertoire in patients with PDAC, through dysregulation of miRNAs and splicing factors, supporting the presence of de novo protein machinery that can "educate" the platelet. These novel findings could be further exploited for innovative liquid biopsies platforms as well as possible therapeutic targets.

A Novel Therapeutic Approach for Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells: Blocking the PI3K/Akt Signaling Axis With Caffeic Acid

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in a multiple of cancer types and resistant to traditional cancer therapies such as chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy, which may destroy bulk tumor cells but not all CSCs, contributing to reformation tumor masses and subsequent relapse. Moreover, it is very difficult to effectively identify and eliminate CSCs because they share some common phenotypic and functional characteristics of normal stem cells. Therefore, finding better therapeutic strategies to selectively target CSCs might be helpful to reduce subsequent malignancies. In the present study, we found that caffeic acid effectively suppresses self-renewal capacity, stem-like characteristics, and migratory capacity of CD44+ and CD133+ colorectal CSCs in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we also revealed that PI3K/Akt signaling may be linked to multiple colorectal CSC-associated characteristics, such as radio-resistance, stem-like property, and tumorigenic potential. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that caffeic acid effectively targets colorectal CSC populations by inhibiting the growth and/or self-renewal capacity of colorectal CSCs through PI3K/Akt signaling in vitro and in vivo.

Chemopreventive effect of α-hederin/carboplatin combination against experimental colon hyperplasia and impact on JNK signaling

Colon cancer is the commonest cancer worldwide. α-Hederin is a monodesmosidic triterpenoid saponin possessing diverse pharmacological activities. The running experiment was designed to test the chemopreventive activity of α-hederin when used as an adjuvant to carboplatin in an experimental model of mouse colon hyperplasia induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). Fifty male Swiss albino mice were classified into five groups: group (I): saline group, group (II): DMH-induced colon hyperplasia control group, group (III): DMH + carboplatin (5 mg/kg) group, group (IV): DMH + α-hederin (80 mg/kg) group, and group (V): DMH + carboplatin (5 mg/kg)+α-hederin (80 mg/kg) group. Analyzing of colonic tissue indicated that the disease control group showed higher colon levels of phospho-PI3K to total-PI3K, phospho-AKT to total-AKT and cyclin D1 concurrent with lower phospho-JNK/total JNK ratio and caspase 3. However, treatment with α-hederin, in combination with carboplatin, favorably ameliorated phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT/JNK proteins, increased colon caspase 3 and downregulated cyclin D1. Microscopically, α-hederin, in combination with carboplatin, produced the most reduction in the histologic hyperplasia score, enhanced the goblet cell survival in periodic acid Schiff staining and reduced proliferation (Ki-67 immunostaining) in the current colon hyperplasia model. Collectively, the current study highlighted for the first time that using α-hederin as an adjuvant to carboplatin enhanced its chemopreventive activity, improved JNK signaling and increased apoptosis. Hence, further studies are warranted to test α-hederin as a promising candidate with chemotherapeutic agents in treating colon cancer.

NETO2 Is Deregulated in Breast, Prostate, and Colorectal Cancer and Participates in Cellular Signaling

The NETO2 gene (neuropilin and tolloid-like 2) encodes a protein that acts as an accessory subunit of kainate receptors and is predominantly expressed in the brain. Upregulation of NETO2 has been observed in several tumors; however, its role in tumorigenesis remains unclear. In this study, we investigated NETO2 expression in breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer using quantitative PCR (qPCR), as well as the effect of shRNA-mediated NETO2 silencing on transcriptome changes in colorectal cancer cells. In the investigated tumors, we observed both increased and decreased NETO2 mRNA levels, presenting no correlation with the main clinicopathological characteristics. In HCT116 cells, NETO2 knockdown resulted in the differential expression of 17 genes and 2 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), associated with the upregulation of circadian rhythm and downregulation of several cancer-associated pathways, including Wnt, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathways. Furthermore, we demonstrated the possibility to utilize a novel model organism, short-lived fish Nothobranchius furzeri, for evaluating NETO2 functions. The ortholog neto2b in N. furzeri demonstrated a high similarity in nucleotide and amino acid sequences with human NETO2, as well as was characterized by stable expression in various fish tissues. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the deregulation of NETO2 in the breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer and its participation in the tumor development primarily through cellular signaling.

The PI3K/AKT Pathway Is Activated by HGF in NT2D1 Non-Seminoma Cells and Has a Role in the Modulation of Their Malignant Behavior

Overactivation of the c-MET/HGF system is a feature of many cancers. We previously reported that type II testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) cells express the c-MET receptor, forming non-seminomatous lesions that are more positive compared with seminomatous ones. Notably, we also demonstrated that NT2D1 non-seminomatous cells (derived from an embryonal carcinoma lesion) increase their proliferation, migration, and invasion in response to HGF. Herein, we report that HGF immunoreactivity is more evident in the microenvironment of embryonal carcinoma biopsies with respect to seminomatous ones, indicating a tumor-dependent modulation of the testicular niche. PI3K/AKT is one of the signaling pathways triggered by HGF through the c-MET activation cascade. Herein, we demonstrated that phospho-AKT increases in NT2D1 cells after HGF stimulation. Moreover, we found that this pathway is involved in HGF-dependent NT2D1 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, since the co-administration of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 together with HGF abrogates these responses. Notably, the inhibition of endogenous PI3K affects collective cell migration but does not influence proliferation or chemotactic activity. Surprisingly, LY294002 administered without the co-administration of HGF increases cell invasion at levels comparable to the HGF-administered samples. This paradoxical result highlights the role of the testicular microenvironment in the modulation of cellular responses and stimulates the study of the testicular secretome in cancer lesions.

Apremilast Regulates the Teff/Treg Balance to Ameliorate Uveitis via PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 Signaling Pathway

Autoimmune uveitis (AU), being one of the sight-threatening ocular inflammatory disorders, has been widely regarded by ophthalmologists and immunologists as a great challenge. Apremilast, a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor (PDE4i), which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in 2014, has been attracting researchers, who are exploring its efficiency and mechanism on uveitis. In this study, we used an experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU), a representative model for human AU, to investigate the effect of apremilast on regulating anti-inflammatory mediators. Our study demonstrated that apremilast treatment resulted in a decrease in vascular leakage, macular edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the retina, corresponding to decreased clinical and pathological scores. Specifically, apremilast decreased the proportion and population of Th17 cells and increased the proportion and population of T regulatory (Treg) cells. Mechanistically, apremilast may regulate Th17 and Treg cells by inhibiting the phosphorylation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)/Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) signaling pathway. These findings suggested that apremilast alleviated EAU by regulating Th17 and Treg through the PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 pathway.

IGFBP-3 stimulates human osteosarcoma cell migration by upregulating VCAM-1 expression

AIMS

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling has been documented in several human malignancies and is thought to contribute to cellular differentiation and migration, as well as malignant progression. A major binding molecule of IGF, IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), regulates multiple IGF effects. Here, we focused on the effect of IGFBP-3 in the motility of osteosarcoma cells and examined signaling regulation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using a human osteosarcoma tissue array, immunohistochemical staining determined levels of IGFBP-3 expression in osteosarcoma tissue and in normal tissue. The wound healing migration assay, Transwell migration assay, luciferase reporter assay, immunofluorescence staining, Western blot and real-time quantitative PCR were performed to examine whether IGFBP-3 facilitates VCAM-1-dependent migration of osteosarcoma cells.

KEY FINDINGS

In this study, we found significantly higher IGFBP-3 levels in osteosarcoma tissue compared with normal healthy tissue. IGFBP-3 treatment of two human osteosarcoma cell lines promoted cell migration and upregulated levels of VCAM-1 expression via PI3K/Akt and AP-1 signaling.

SIGNIFICANCE

IGFBP-3 appears to be a novel therapeutic target in metastatic osteosarcoma.

Chronic Disruption of the Late Cholesterol Synthesis Leads to Female-Prevalent Liver Cancer

Simple Summary

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a disease with a variety of molecular triggers and is usually reported to prevail in males. However, after the menopause, the disease is also increasing in the female population. Herein, we discovered that chronic depletion of cholesterol synthesis due to the knock-out of the gene Cyp51 from this pathway leads to female prevalent hepatocarcinogenesis in aging mice. There is a high similarity between our mouse model and the situation in humans. Multiple deregulated pathways of hepatocarcinogenesis are shared. A female-dependent metabolic reprogramming leading to this type of liver cancer is exposed for the first time and reflects on deregulated cholesterol synthesis as the metabolic trigger. These data are of crucial importance. Despite the higher overall prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma in males, we need tools and biomarkers to further stratify patients and offer better diagnosis and treatment options to both sexes.

Abstract

While the role of cholesterol in liver carcinogenesis remains controversial, hepatocellular carcinoma generally prevails in males. Herein, we uncover pathways of female-prevalent progression to hepatocellular carcinoma due to chronic repression of cholesterogenic lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) in hepatocytes. Tumors develop in knock-out mice after year one, with 2:1 prevalence in females. Metabolic and transcription factor networks were deduced from the liver transcriptome data, combined by sterol metabolite and blood parameter analyses, and interpreted with relevance to humans. Female knock-outs show increased plasma cholesterol and HDL, dampened lipid-related transcription factors FXR, LXRα:RXRα, and importantly, crosstalk between reduced LXRα and activated TGF-β signalling, indicating a higher susceptibility to HCC in aging females. PI3K/Akt signalling and ECM-receptor interaction are common pathways that are disturbed by sex-specific altered genes. Additionally, transcription factors (SOX9)2 and PPARα were recognized as important for female hepatocarcinogenesis, while overexpressed Cd36, a target of nuclear receptor RORC, is a new male-related regulator of ECM-receptor signalling in hepatocarcinogenesis. In conclusion, we uncover the sex-dependent metabolic reprogramming of cholesterol-related pathways that predispose for hepatocarcinogenesis in aging females. This is important in light of increased incidence of liver cancers in post-menopausal women.

MicroRNA in Gastric Cancer Development: Mechanisms and Biomarkers

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common and difficult diseases to treat. The study of signaling pathway regulation by microRNA provides information on the mechanisms of GC development and is the basis for biomarker creation. In this study, a circuit of microRNA interactions with signaling pathways was constructed. The microRNAs, associated with metastasis and chemoresistance, are described. In most cases, microRNAs in GC regulate the Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, RAS/RAF/ERK/MAPK, NF-kB, TGF-β, and JAK/STAT pathways. Part of the microRNA acts on several target genes that function in different pathways. This often leads to an intensification of the induced processes. MicroRNAs have also been described that have the opposite effect on different pathways, causing different functional consequences. By acting on several target genes, or genes associated with several pathways, microRNAs can function in a signaling network. MicroRNAs associated with metastasis most often interact with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. MicroRNAs affecting chemoresistance, in most cases, affect the regulators of apoptosis and are associated with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The characteristics of microRNAs proposed as candidates for GC biomarkers were analyzed. The currently developed diagnostic and prognostic panels of microRNAs are also considered.

Optimized Combination of HDACI and TKI Efficiently Inhibits Metabolic Activity in Renal Cell Carcinoma and Overcomes Sunitinib Resistance

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized by high histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity triggering both cell motility and the development of metastasis. Therefore, there is an unmet need to establish innovative strategies to advance the use of HDAC inhibitors (HDACIs). We selected a set of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and HDACIs to test them in combination, using the validated therapeutically guided multidrug optimization (TGMO) technique based on experimental testing and in silico data modeling. We determined a synergistic low-dose three-drug combination decreasing the cell metabolic activity in metastatic ccRCC cells, Caki-1, by over 80%. This drug combination induced apoptosis and showed anti-angiogenic activity, both in original Caki-1 and in sunitinib-resistant Caki-1 cells. Through phosphoproteomic analysis, we revealed additional targets to improve the translation of this combination in 3-D (co-)culture systems. Cell-cell and cell-environment interactions increased, reverting the invasive and metastatic phenotype of Caki-1 cells. Our data suggest that our optimized low-dose drug combination is highly effective in complex in vitro settings and promotes the activity of HDACIs.

Increased dopamine and its receptor dopamine receptor D1 promote tumor growth in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Dopamine and dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1), a member of the dopamine receptor family, have been indicated to play important roles in cancer progression, but dopamine secretion in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the effects of DRD1 on HCC remain unclear. This study was designed to explore the contribution of the dopaminergic system to HCC and determine the relationship between DRD1 and prognosis in HCC patients.

Methods

The dopamine metabolic system was monitored using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The expression of DRD1 was detected by microarray analysis, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR). Stable DRD1 knockout and overexpression cell lines were established for investigation. Transwell, colony formation, and Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) assays were performed to assess the malignant behaviors of cancer cells. The cAMP/PI3K/AKT/ cAMP response element‐binding (CREB) signaling pathway was evaluated by Western blot. This pathway, which is agitated by DRD1 in striatal neurons, had been proven to participate in tumor progression. Xenograft HCC tumors were generated for in vivo experiments.

Results

Dopamine secretion increased locally in HCC due to an imbalance in dopamine metabolism, including the upregulation of dopa decarboxylase (DDC) and the downregulation of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA). Dopamine promoted the proliferation and metastasis of HCC. DRD1 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and positive DRD1 expression was related to a poor prognosis in HCC patients. The upregulation of DRD1 agitated malignant activities, including proliferation and metastasis in HCC by regulating the cAMP/PI3K/AKT/CREB pathway, and the downregulation of DRD1 had opposing effects. The effects of dopamine on HCC was reversed by depleting DRD1. SCH23390, a selective DRD1 antagonist, inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

Dopamine secretion was locally increased in HCC and promoted HCC cell proliferation and metastasis. DRD1 was found to exert positive effects on HCC progression and play a vital role in the dopamine system, and could be a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for HCC.

A20 promotes melanoma progression via the activation of Akt pathway

Melanoma is the most life-threatening skin cancer with increasing incidence around the world. Although recent advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy have brought revolutionary progress of the treatment outcome, the survival of patients with advanced melanoma remains unoptimistic, and metastatic melanoma is still an incurable disease. Therefore, to further understand the mechanism underlying melanoma pathogenesis could be helpful for developing novel therapeutic strategy. A20 is a crucial ubiquitin-editing enzyme implicated immunity regulation, inflammatory responses and cancer pathogenesis. Herein, we report that A20 played an oncogenic role in melanoma. We first found that the expression of A20 was significantly up-regulated in melanoma cell lines. Then, we showed that knockdown of A20 suppressed melanoma cell proliferation in vitro and melanoma growth in vivo through the regulation of cell-cycle progression. Moreover, A20 could potentiate the invasive and migratory capacities of melanoma cell in vitro and melanoma metastasis in vivo by promoting epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanistically, we found that Akt activation mediated the oncogenic effect of A20 on melanoma development, with the involvement of glycolysis. What’s more, the up-regulation of A20 conferred the acquired resistance to Vemurafenib in BRAF-mutant melanoma. Taken together, we demonstrated that up-regulated A20 promoted melanoma progression via the activation of Akt pathway, and that A20 could be exploited as a potential therapeutic target for melanoma treatment.

Arsenic trioxide enhances the chemotherapeutic efficiency of cisplatin in cholangiocarcinoma cells via inhibiting the 14-3-3ε-mediated survival mechanism

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second most frequent primary liver carcinoma with high degrees of malignancy and mortality. Chemotherapy plays a key role in the treatment of CCA, however, the low chemotherapeutic efficiency leads to a bottleneck. So unraveling the potential mechanisms to enhance the efficiency (reduced the dosage and enhanced the effects of chemotherapy drugs) and identifying alternative therapeutic strategies in CCA are urgently needed. Here, we found that, in CCA cells, when cisplatin (CDDP) displayed anti-tumor effects, it activated 14-3-3ε simultaneously, which in turn formed a survival mechanism via the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI-3K/Akt). However, low concentrations of arsenic trioxide (ATO) could disrupt such survival mechanism and enhanced the efficiency. For the molecular mechanisms, ATO attenuated 14-3-3ε at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional (ubiquitination degradation) levels. Such repressive effect blocked the activation of PI-3K/Akt, and its downstream anti-apoptotic factors, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and survivin. Collectively, our present study revealed that the synergistic effects of ATO and CDDP could be a novel approach for enhancing the efficiency, which provides an innovative therapeutic vision for the treatment of CCA.

MicroRNA-23b-3p promotes pancreatic cancer cell tumorigenesis and metastasis via the JAK/PI3K and Akt/NF-κB signaling pathways

MicroRNA (miR)-23b-3p plays an important role in tumor growth, proliferation, invasion and migration in pancreatic cancer (PC). However, the function and mechanistic role of miR-23b-3p in the development of PC remains largely unknown. In the present study, the miR-23b-3p levels in the serum of patients with PC were found to be elevated, and the phosphorylation levels of Janus kinase (JAK)2, PI3K, Akt and NF-κВ were found to be upregulated. In addition, miR-23b-3p was induced in response to interleukin-6 (IL-6), which is known to be involved in the progression of PC. Overexpression of miR-23b-3p, on the other hand, activated the JAK/PI3K and Akt/NF-κB signaling pathways in PC cells, as evidenced by miR-23b-3p-induced upregulation of phosphorylated (p-)JAK2, p-PI3K, p-Akt and p-NF-κВ, as well as the downregulation of PTEN; and these effects were found to be reversible by miR-23b-3p inhibition. Furthermore, miR-23b-3p was found to downregulate PTEN by directly targeting the 3′-untranslated region of PTEN mRNA. Notably, in an in vivo xenograft mouse model, overexpression of miR-23b-3p accelerated PC cell-derived tumor growth, activated the JAK/Akt/NF-κВ signaling pathway and promoted liver metastasis. In contrast, knockdown of miR-23b-3p suppressed tumor growth and metastasis as well as JAK/Akt/NF-κВ signaling activity. In vivo imaging of the mice further confirmed the metastasis promoting role of miR-23b-3p in PC. These results suggested that miR-23b-3p enhances PC cell tumorigenesis and metastasis, at least, partially via the JAK/PI3K and Akt/NF-κB signaling pathways. Therefore, targeting miR-23b-3p or the JAK/PI3K and Akt/NF-κB signalings may be potential therapeutic strategy against PC.

Prognostic Value of Immune-Related Genes in the Tumor Microenvironment of Bladder Cancer

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex system that plays an important role in tumor development and progression, but the current knowledge about its effect on bladder cancer (BC) is scarce. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between the TME and gene expression profiles to identify prognostic biomarkers for BC. The ESTIMATE algorithm was used to calculate immune and stromal scores of BC patients who were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We found that the immune and stromal scores were associated with clinical characteristics and the prognosis of BC patients. Based on these scores, 104 immune-related differentially expressed genes were identified. Further, functional enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were mainly involved in the immune-related biological processes and signaling pathways. Three prognostic genes were then identified and used to establish a risk prediction model using Cox regression analyses. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that the expression levels of COL1A1, COMP, and SERPINE2 significantly correlated with cancer-specific survival and overall survival of BC patients. Additionally, we validated the prognostic values of these genes using two independent cohorts from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. Finally, the relationships between the three prognostic genes and several immune cells were evaluated using Tumor Immune Estimation Resource, indicating that the expression levels of COL1A1, COMP, and SERPINE2 correlated positively with the tumor infiltration levels of CD4⁺ T cells and macrophages. In conclusion, the current study comprehensively analyzed the TME and presented immune-related prognostic genes for BC, providing new insights into immunotherapeutic strategies for BC patients.

Effects of chitosan and oligochitosans on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKT pathway in cancer therapy

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathway is one of the most important kinase signaling networks in the context of cancer development and treatment. Aberrant activation of AKT, the central mediator of this pathway, has been implicated in numerous malignancies including endometrial, hepatocellular, breast, colorectal, prostate, and, cervical cancer. Thus regulation and blockage of this kinase and its key target nodes is an attractive approach in cancer therapy and diverse efforts have been done to achieve this aim. Chitosan is a carbohydrate with multiple interesting applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies. This bioactive polymer and its derivative oligomers commonly used in drug/DNA delivery methods due to their functional properties which improve efficiency of delivery systems. Further, these compounds exert anti-tumor roles through the stimulation of apoptosis, immune enhancing potency, anti-oxidative features and anti-angiogenic roles. Due to the importance of PI3K-AKT signaling in cancer targeting and treatment resistance, this review discusses the involvement of chitosan, oligochitosaccharides and carriers based on these chemicals in the regulation of this pathway in different tumors.