Alakananda Basu, Ph.D.
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12503/31593
Professor, Microbiology, Immunology & Genetics
Email:Alakananda.Basu@unthsc.edu
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Browsing Alakananda Basu, Ph.D. by Subject "cell proliferation"
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Item Akt Isoforms: A Family Affair in Breast Cancer(MDPI, 2021-07-09) Basu, Alakananda; Lambring, Christoffer B.Akt, also known as protein kinase B (PKB), belongs to the AGC family of protein kinases. It acts downstream of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and regulates diverse cellular processes, including cell proliferation, cell survival, metabolism, tumor growth and metastasis. The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is frequently deregulated in breast cancer and plays an important role in the development and progression of breast cancer. There are three closely related members in the Akt family, namely Akt1(PKBalpha), Akt2(PKBbeta) and Akt3(PKBgamma). Although Akt isoforms share similar structures, they exhibit redundant, distinct as well as opposite functions. While the Akt signaling pathway is an important target for cancer therapy, an understanding of the isoform-specific function of Akt is critical to effectively target this pathway. However, our perception regarding how Akt isoforms contribute to the genesis and progression of breast cancer changes as we gain new knowledge. The purpose of this review article is to analyze current literatures on distinct functions of Akt isoforms in breast cancer.Item The Enigmatic Protein Kinase C-eta(MDPI, 2019-02-13) Basu, AlakanandaProtein kinase C (PKC), a multi-gene family, plays critical roles in signal transduction and cell regulation. Protein kinase C-eta (PKCeta) is a unique member of the PKC family since its regulation is distinct from other PKC isozymes. PKCeta was shown to regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and cell death. It was also shown to contribute to chemoresistance in several cancers. PKCeta has been associated with several cancers, including renal cell carcinoma, glioblastoma, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia. However, mice lacking PKCeta were more susceptible to tumor formation in a two-stage carcinogenesis model, and it is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, the role of PKCeta in cancer remains controversial. The purpose of this review article is to discuss how PKCeta regulates various cellular processes that may contribute to its contrasting roles in cancer.