AKT1 and cancer: In addition, studies by Mao L et al. (2012) also reported that melatonin activates glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) by inhibiting serine-threonine kinase Akt phosphorylation, by inducing β-catenin degradation, and by inhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, a fundamental process underlying cancer metastasis [75].