Furthermore, DJ‐1 overexpression in two colon cancer cell lines, HCT116 and SW480, activated protein kinase AKT and downregulated tumor suppressor PTEN, whereas DJ‐1 knockdown upregulated PTEN expression and effectively suppressed CRC cell invasion and proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, revealing a mechanism underlying DJ‐1 pro‐oncogenic activity in CRC. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.