AKT1 and neoplasm: It is possible that huMETCAM/MUC18 may work through its partner, which somehow downregulates AKT function and its downstream effect on tumor proliferation, similar to the mechanism suggested by a recent published work that an NPC tumor suppressor gene, PTPRG, manifests its function through its partner, EGFR, to decrease the AKT function, which leads to a downstream effect on tumor proliferation [39].