We sought to determine if the recently identified activating mutation (E17K) in AKT1, which was initially detected in breast, colorectal, and ovarian cancers, and more recently in lung cancer, occurs in melanoma tumours and cell lines (Carpten et al, 2007; Kim et al, 2008; Malanga et al, 2008). The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is lung cancer.