The Akt1-/-and Akt2-/- HCT116 colon cancer cell line was given as a gift from Dr Bert Vogelstein (Johns Hopkins University) (Ericson et al., 2010). These cells were validated by western blot showing the absence of Akt and by the lack of signaling response to growth factors. They were also shown to be mycoplasma-free by PCR testing. Here, AKT2 is linked to colonic neoplasm.