Because EGFR is a strong upstream activator of the AKT pathway 42, 43 and is influenced by other members of the ADAMTS family such as ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS8 44, 45, we examined and found that ADAMTS9 can reduce the phosphorylated level of EGFR and suppress EGFR ligand‐induced AKT activation in breast cancer cells. The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is breast cancer.