Furthermore, our results show that the cross-talk between these stromal cells and HNSCC cells, induces the EMT program, as demonstrated by the increased expression levels of N-cadherin and β-catenin via the AKT/MAPK signaling pathways, and increases the invasiveness of the tumor cells, which thus acquire a pro-metastatic phenotype. Here, AKT1 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.