AKT1 and neoplasm: Specifically, upstream regulators, such as factors in the extracellular matrix (ECM) (common signaling genes), activate the downstream factors ITGA/ITGB (1st-order DEGs), which subsequently activate the key downstream molecules PI3KA and AKT together with other common signaling genes and 1st-order neighboring DEGs; this cascade may trigger tumor development (Fig. 5C, F and I).