By co-culturing WM cells and primary BM stromal cells isolated from patients with WM, we have demonstrated that NVP-BEZ235 abrogated BMSC adhesion-induced phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR in WM cells, indicating that NVP-BEZ235 exerts its anti-tumor activity even when WM cells were in contact with the BM milieu. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is neoplasm.