Inhibition of PDK4 via the small interfering RNA (siRNA) approach or treatment with a pan-PDK inhibitor, dichloroacetate (DCA), led to suppression of cancer cell stemness and tumour growth through the STAT3/AKT/NF-κB/IL-8 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3/protein kinases B/nuclear factor-κB/interleukin-8) signalling pathway. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is neoplasm.