AKT1 and cancer: CK2α is a highly-conserved, constitutively-active Ser/Thr kinase which is involved in the regulation of many cellular processes, including cell cycle progression, transcription and viral infections.5–9 CK2α provides pro-survival and anti-apoptotic effects on the cells, and is often overexpressed in cancer cells, promoting their proliferation by multiple mechanisms such as potentiation of the Akt pathway and activation of NF-Kβ.10,11 Cancer cells therefore rely on CK2α's activity to survive, becoming addicted to high levels of its non-oncogenic activity.