All together, these data clearly reveal two strong yet independent features associated with different levels of AKT3 expression in AML: (i) many of the samples expressing the less AKT3 are those carrying a mutated NPM1 gene and, (ii) the low level of AKT3 expression increases in NPM1c blasts as cells progress toward a mature phenotype (as opposed to what happens in normal hematopoietic differentiation). This evidence concerns the gene AKT3 and acute myeloid leukemia.