Here, we found that inhibition of PDPK1 by GSK470 effectively blocked RCC cell proliferation, increased RCC cell apoptosis and reduced the phosphorylation of Akt at both Thr308 and Ser473, and all of these effects were partially reversed by treatment with the PI3K-Akt pathway activator IGF-1. The gene discussed is PDPK1; the disease is renal cell carcinoma.