Phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) is an excellent predictor of poor clinical outcome in prostate cancer.

We previously showed, by immunohistochemistry with phospho-specific antibodies, increased phosphorylation (activation) of Akt (Ser(473)) [phosphorylated Akt (pAkt)] in high-Gleason grade prostate cancer (Malik SN, et al., Clin Cancer Res 2002;8:1168-71). Elevation of pAkt was accompanied by decreased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 (Thr(202)/Tyr(204)) [phosphorylated ERK (pERK)], indicative of inactivation.