AKT1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: IHC exhibited increased expression of IL-1β, p-PI3K, p-AKT, FOXO3A, and N-cadherin and decreased expression of E-cadherin in lung tissues overexpressing IL-1β (Fig. 5E), a result which reinforces the conclusion that IL-1β can promote the development of ESCC through the PI3K/AKT/FOXO3A signaling pathway and EMT.