Understanding AKT-mediated chemoresistance: the relationship between ion channels and AKT activation

Overcoming chemoresistance is a challenge for multiple chemotherapeutics agents like cisplatin. ABC transporters such as MDR1 or MRPs and PI3K/AKT pathway have been proposed as actors of chemoresistance in several cancers. In this review we describe two downstream targets of Akt: c-myc and p53 in the chemoresistance. We suggest a potential link between p53, c-myc and ABC transporters expression. Consequently a link between Akt and ABC transporters-mediated chemoresistance may exist. Finally we show that Akt activation may be Orai-dependent and/or TRPC-dependent, suggesting that these ion channels could constitute a therapeutic target in cancer.