The results from this study not only verify the previously reported anti-tumorigenic properties of curcumin in rhabdomyosarcoma, but they also open the door to the testing of small molecule inhibitors to AMPK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, STAT, and p53, individually or in combination depending on the characteristics of the rhabdomyosaroma in question (ARMS or ERMS, wt p53, or mut p53), in vitro and in vivo. Here, AKT1 is linked to rhabdomyosarcoma.