Considering the activation of PI3K-AKT can lead to neoplastic transformation, tumor cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis in colorectal cancer, it is rational that NDRG4 plays its tumor suppressive role in carcinogenesis, progression and prognosis of colorectal cancer at least partly by suppression of PI3K-AKT activity [32–35]. Here, AKT1 is linked to colorectal cancer.