Moreover, the finding that IL-6 was, among the genes down-regulated in NCI-H460 cells interfered for Akt1, the DEG that resulted most consistently up-regulated in NSCLC LCSs, suggested that it plays a role in mediating the effects exerted by Akt1 on NSCLC TICs. Here, AKT1 is linked to non-small cell lung carcinoma.