More importantly, knockdown of LMP2A with siRNA reduced HIF-1α expression and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling axis activation (Fig. 6d), as well as the tube-forming capacities of EBV-infected NPC cells (Fig. 6e), supporting an important role for LMP2A in EBV-induced VM formation. Here, AKT1 is linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma.