In an earlier study, we analyzed the expression levels of the growth-hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRH-R), heat shock protein (Hsp) 90, p-Akt, Hsp16.2 and heme-binding protein 2 (SOUL) in pretreatment rectal tumor samples, and found that GHRH-R and Hsp90 were independent predictive factors of the histopathological response to NRCT [12]. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is rectal neoplasm.