The activation status of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was investigated in our series of 93 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas by analyzing the immunohistochemical expression of multiple upstream and downstream components, such as EGFR, PDK1, PTEN, p-AKT and p-S6. The gene discussed is PDK1; the disease is hypopharyngeal carcinoma.