Combining the above results, we speculate that the role of AKR1C2 in tumours depends on AR, which has been reported as a pivotal drug target in breast cancer,40, 41, 42 when acting in an AR‐dependent manner, it inhibits the DHT‐AR signalling pathway by metabolizing DHT 11, 23; On the contrary, when acting in an AR‐independent manner, AKR1C2 metabolizes DHT into 3α‐diol, which has been reported can activate the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49. This evidence concerns the gene AKT1 and breast carcinoma.