摘要Background and objective Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the world. Although the insulin-resistant state or hyperinsulinemia was recently suggested as a potent risk factor for endometrial carcinogenesis and progression, there is only limited supporting evidence and the mechanism is unclear. In this study, we explored the roles of phosphatidylinositol 3-k/nase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway in the response of a human endometrial cancer cell line, Ishikawa3-H-12 cells, to insulin.Methods The Ishikawa 3-H-12 cells were serum-starved and then stimulated by insulin at various concentrations and for different time periods. To identify the insnlin-mediated signal pathway in the cells, LY294002, a selective inhibitor of PI3K, was used. The proliferation and the apoptotic rates were determined with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and flow cytometric assays, respectively.Results The insulin receptor positive Ishikawa 3-H-12 cells had enhanced proliferation upon insulin stimulation in a rinse-and time-dependent manner. The growth promoting effect of insulin was blocked when the cells were pre-incubated with LY294002 for 60 rains.Insulin was able to protect the cells from serum-starvation-induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner, while the anti-apoptotic effects of insulin was reversed by adding LY294002. Treatment with insulin at 1 μM for 15 rain resulted in an increased level of activated Akt The insulin-induced Akt activation was inhibited by LY294002 in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion Insulin activates PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and is a mitogenic and anti-apoptotic agent for Ishikewa 3-H-12 endometrial cancer cells.