Considering that CAFs promote a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment through the secretion of several molecules, including IGF-1, the present study aimed to investigate the role of IGF-1 in cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, invasion and cancer cell stemness in OSCC, and to link these events to IGF-1-mediated regulation of AKT and HH pathways. Here, AKT1 is linked to cancer.