With the demonstration of robust NIS expression in non-thyroid cancer cells by suppressing the MAP kinase and PI3K/Akt pathways and HDAC, we used M14, HepG2 and MKN-7 cells to test the ultimate functional relevance of this finding by examining the ability of these cells to take up radioiodide after induction of NIS. Here, AKT1 is linked to thyroid cancer.