AKT1 and neoplasm: Functionally, PTEN acts as a negative regulator of cell survival and protein synthesis via inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT [41], one of the most important molecular pathways involved both in cell survival and in malignant neoplasms, which contributes, if altered or deregulated, to tumor pathogenesis [42] and chemoresistance [43].