AKT1 and cancer: Compared to their 2D counterparts, colon cancer cell lines cultured in a 3D environment exhibit a reduced activation of the AKT/mTOR/S6K pathway, which plays an important role in carcinogenesis, cancer cell migration, and resistance to therapies.97 Similarly, 3D cultures of ER+/Her2+ breast cancer cells were less responsive to hormonal and anti-HER2 treatments compared to 2D cultures due to a shift from the AKT to the MAPK pathway.98