If activation of Akt1 in human tumours (which can occur by loss of PTEN function or activating mutation of either PI3K or Akt) is critical to ErbB2-positive breast cancer cells becoming trastuzumab resistant, then evaluation of the activation status of Akt may assist in deciding the prognosis and treatment strategy for breast cancer patients as compared with the current screening that only identifies amplification of ErbB2. Here, ERBB2 is linked to breast carcinoma.