To define the role of the SMURF1-PDK1-AKT axis in the regulation of growth and survival of colon cancer cells and colon tumorigenesis, the authors used in vitro cell culture, in vivo xenograft tumors and AOM-DSS (azoxymethane-dextran sodium sulfate) chemical carcinogenesis models with approaches including shRNA-based knockdown, small molecular inhibitors, and Smurf1 KO mice. The gene discussed is PDK1; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.