Different mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer activity of biosurfactants have been proposed including the delay of cell cycle progression; inhibition of crucial signalling pathways such as Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (ERK/JNK) and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT); reduction of angiogenesis; activation of natural killer T (NKT) cells; and induction of apoptosis through death receptors in cancer cells. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is cancer.