To elucidate the role of α9-nAChR in promoting melanoma cell proliferation via the AKT and ERK signaling pathways, we examined the proliferative ability of stable α9-nAChR-overexpressing A2058 cells treated with the PIK3 inhibitor LY 294002 (10 μm) or MEK inhibitor PD 98059 (10 μm) for 48 h and compared the proliferation of these cells to that of stable pcDNA3.1-A2058 cells treated with the inhibitors. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is melanoma.