AKT1 and non-small cell lung carcinoma: Despite further studies are needed to explore the efficacy of disruption of regulatory network between Cx26 expression and PI3K/Akt pathway in targeted therapy for NSCLC with aberrant Cx26 expression or PI3K/Akt activation, our study shows a positive regulatory loop between Cx26 expression and PI3K/Akt pathway, which confers the acquired gefitinib resistance in NSCLC cells by promoting EMT in a GJIC-independent manner.