In conclusion, our findings on non-bioenergetic role of mitochondrial GPD2 in the regulation of DHAP production and ether lipid synthesis, and the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway as the downstream of the GPD2-DHAP-ether lipid axis suggest 'GPD2-ether lipid-Akt axis' as an anabolic role of mitochondria in cancer growth (Figure 7). Based on these, it is believed that GPD2-mediated ether lipid biosynthesis is a vulnerability in cancer. Here, AKT1 is linked to cancer.