In this study, we investigated the sensitivity of the EpCAM+ HCC cell line Huh7 and the CD90+ HCC related cell line SK-HEP1 as well as EpCAM+ primary patient-derived HCC cells towards the dual treatment with AKT and mTOR inhibitors (MK2206 and RAD001) in vitro and in an orthotopic xenotransplantation mouse model in vivo. This evidence concerns the gene AKT1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.