Abstract: AMP-activated protein kinase（AMPK）， a significant protein kinase extensive distribution in whole body′s tissues and organs, plays a key role in the regulation of metabolism. Both the Ser172, which is a point on AMPK, and the phosphorylation on it are very important to the regulation of activation of AMPK. The researches of the correlation between AMPK and tumor which gradually go in-depth in recent years—show that AMPK can be activated by many signaling. The activations of AMPK and its upstream kinases, such as LKB1, CaMKK, TAK1 and Akt/PKB, probably have the complex regulatory function in inhibiting the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells, which is expected to be the new target in chemotherapy treatments of ovarian cancer. This review will summarize the new discoveries on AMPK in ovarian neoplasms.

Key words: Metabolism, Cell cycle, Ovarian neoplasms, Protein kinases, AMP-activated protein kinase