AKT1 and cancer: Within the last three decades, cancer causing genes called oncogenes, cancer-suppressing genes (tumor suppressor genes), cancer growth factors (such as epidermal growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor), cancer-promoting enzymes (such as cyclooxygenase [COX]-2, matrix metalloproteinase 9, inducible nitric oxide synthetase) and cancer-causing protein kinases (AKT, mitogen- activated protein kinase [MAPK], protein kinase C) have been identified as targets.