AKT1 and intestinal neoplasm: Importantly, here, we further demonstrated that PI3K/Akt signaling, as a putative marker for colorectal CSCs, regulates intestinal tumor growth via facilitating the expression of pluripotency-related factors, migratory capability, and the resistance to radiation in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, these results suggested that inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling cascade with caffeic acid might be an effective therapeutic strategy that selectively targets colorectal CSCs.