Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 mediates pleiotropic effects of epidermal growth factor in cancer cells.

Aims: Engagement of epidermal growth factor (EGF) with its receptor (EGFR) produces a broad range of cancer phenotypes. The overriding aim of this study was to understand EGFR signaling and its regulation by the Ca/calmodulin (CaM) dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CaMKK2) in cancer cells.

Results: In ovarian cancer cells and other cancer cell types, EGF-induced activation of oncogenic Akt is mediated by both the canonical PI3K-PDK1 pathway and by CaMKK2.