Activation of Akt pathway is critical for Phd2−/− melanoma cell proliferation since suppression of this pathway using torin1 or rapamycin significantly inhibits BrafV600E; Phd2−/− melanoma cell growth in vitro and mouse melanomas in Tyr::CreER; BrafV600E; Phd2−/− mice and prolongs their lifespans, respectively. Here, AKT1 is linked to melanoma.