Thus, concurrent pAkt and pErk expression may be predictive of a poor prognosis in HER2-positive patients, and a dual target inhibitor of pAkt and pErk1/2 may be a potential effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer, overcoming the resistance of breast cancer patients to trastuzumab therapy. The gene discussed is ERBB2; the disease is breast carcinoma.