Conversely, depletion of intracellular zinc increases VEGF, IL-6, and IL-8 expression in PCa cells via the NF-kB-dependent pathway [55], and increases expression and phosphorylation of PKB/Akt and Mdm2, and decreases p53 and p21 levels in normal and cancer prostate cells [56]. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is cancer.