Context
The serine-threonine kinase Akt is a central component of signaling pathways controlling both cellular proliferation and apoptosis. In previous studies the authors showed that overexpression of HER-2/neu, a membrane tyrosine kinase whose upregulation correlates with some breast and ovarian cancers, activates signaling through Akt in NIH3T3 cells. By studying the cellular and molecular consequences of Akt activation in the context of these HER-2/neu overexpressing cells, the authors set out to reveal fundamental information regarding the signaling mechanisms altered during malignant progression.