These findings indicate that the molecular alterations that activate Akt signalling are able to increase TIC compartment in NSCLC and are consistent with previous studies that have revealed preferential activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway in cells inside spheres and a role for PI3K signalling in survival and proliferation of cancer stem-like cells [11, 12]. The gene discussed is PIK3CA; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.