The expression of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) and phosphorylated extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (pErk1/2) proteins may result in breast cancer progression and drug resistance in vitro, however, compelling evidence regarding the clinical significance of pAkt and pErk1/2 in early-stage breast cancer is currently lacking. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is breast carcinoma.