EPHA2 kinase activity and pro-tumor effects were found to be correlated with Ser897 phosphorylation mediated by Akt; interestingly, this was a ligand-independent event, whereas binding of ephrin-A1 ligand was sufficient to abrogate EPHA2 Ser897 phosphorylation and therefore EPHA2 kinase activity53. This evidence concerns the gene EFNA1 and neoplasm.