AKT1 and cancer: AGEs exert their action via RAGE-driven surge in (1) the expression of various genes associated with cancer promotion including NOX-2, NF-κB, SP-1, MMP2 and MMP9, B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL); (2) phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, p38 MAPK, STAT-3 and 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K1); (3) down regulation of NRF-2, Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic protein), p53 (tumour suppressor) expression; and (4) activation of PI3K/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway (shown in Figures 1 and 2).