Similarly, we chose EKVX cells (another KRAS-mutant NSCLC cell line) to further confirm that ERK inhibitor and Pembrolizumab could reduce the apoptosis rates of CD3+ T cells (25.47 ± 0.32 vs. 16.17 ± 0.61%, P = 0.0002 and 25.47 ± 0.32 vs. 12.60 ± 0.64%, P < 0.0001) in EKVX/DC-CIK co-culture system but not with AKT inhibitor (25.47 ± 0.32 vs. 23.83 ± 0.55%, P = 0.0616) (Fig. 4d, g). The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.