Furthermore, PI3K/AKT signalling and its downstream signals are crucial in the development of cancer, participating in the regulation of carcinogenesis, angiogenesis, cell cycle progression and apoptosis.67, 68 mTOR is a significant downstream protein of PI3K/AKT pathway, and activation of mTOR by p‐AKT can upregulate the expression of MMP‐2 in multiple tumours, including pancreatic cancer.70, 71 The present study provided information that the insulin‐promoted MMP‐2 gelatinolytic activity was upregulated partly through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling. This evidence concerns the gene INS and cancer.