The overexpression of p-Akt in stage IIIB–IV NSCLC was only associated with TNM stage (χ2=5.7501; P=0.016), and no correlation was observed with gender, age, pathological type, histological grade and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS). This evidence concerns the gene AKT1 and non-small cell lung carcinoma.