In our study focusing on ESCC patients, we measured the expression of EGFR and two phosphorylated proteins respectively essential for the activation of its two main downstream signaling pathways, ie p-Akt and p-Erk, in order to assess their potentiality to predict the outcome after treatment with nimotuzumab in these patients. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.