AKT1 and colorectal carcinoma: In addition, these proteins activate and regulate intracellular signaling cascades including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways that are involved in metabolism and protein synthesis, cell proliferation, and key regulators of CRC development and progression (17, 18).