AKT1 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Moreover, a study showed that STC2 could upregulate the phosphorylation of AKT and enhance HNSCC metastasis via Snail-mediated increase of vimentin and the decrease of E-cadherin 41, which was proved that STC2 could activate PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by down-regulating miR-206 40.