The number of BEAS-AKT1-E17K cells that crossed the Matrigel barrier after 48 h was ~2-fold higher than that of BEAS-C or BEAS-AKT1-WT cells in medium deprived of growth factors, demonstrating that mutant AKT1-E17K is able to promote invasion through the basement membrane, a key event during tumour dissemination. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is neoplasm.