Although both Akt1 or Akt2 signaling prevented the expression of immune checkpoints, especially lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) and T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT) on CTLs, only Akt2-OE CTLs but not Akt1-OE CTLs were able to eliminate tumor cells in the setting of the HCC mouse model. Here, AKT2 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.