AKT1 and neoplasm: Because phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), WNK lysine deficient protein kinase 2 (WNK2), and sex-determining region Y (SRY)-box 6 (SOX6) have miR-18a-binding sites in their 3′-UTRs and act as tumor suppressors in CC, this study hypothesized and confirmed that miR-18a indirectly upregulates PD-L1 expression by activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and Wnt/β-catenin pathways.