Elevated phosphorylation of AKT and Stat3 in prostate, breast, and cervical cancer cells

We examined whether the persistent activation of AKT or Stat3 oncogene prod uct is present in prostate, breast, and cervical cancer cells. We found tha t some prostate and breast cancer cell lines express high levels of phospho rylated AKT. Interestingly, the cancer cells, which only express low levels of phosphorylated AKT express high levels of phosphorylated Stat3. AKT or Stat3 is also highly phosphorylated in human papilloma virus-negative cervi cal cancer cells. Therefore, these results indicate that AKT and Stat3 are highly phosphorylated in some breast, prostate and cervical cancer cells, w hich may play a role in tumorigenesis of these cancers.