Currently, accumulating evidence has confirmed that the PI3K-AKT pathway plays an important role in cell mitosis, proliferation and apoptosis, especially in maintaining the pluripotency of mesenchymal stem cells and embryonic stem cells.62,63 Importantly, previous studies have shown that CD36 promotes tumour progression by activating PI3K/AKT in several cancer types.64–67 These findings support the notion that TICs of PA are controlled by PI3K-AKT signalling. This evidence concerns the gene AKT1 and cancer.