AKT1 and colorectal cancer: Furthermore, cytokines secreted in the tumor microenvironment (e.g., hepatocyte growth factor and stromal-derived factor 1a), increased CD44v6 expression, and assisted colorectal cancer stem cells in colonization and survival through activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-AKT) pathway (Todaro et al., 2014).