Shimura et al. detected that cells could acquire radioresistance causing by Akt‐mediated enhancing aerobic glycolysis.14 In addition, the poor radio‐response in head neck cancer cells might be also caused by up‐regulation of the Akt pathway.22 In our study, high expression level of ATF3 enhanced cell radioresistance by up‐regulating pAkt while siATF3 could reduce it. The gene discussed is ATF3; the disease is head and neck cancer.