In non-small cell lung cancer cells, rotenone demonstrated its ability to activate the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway, upregulating the apoptosis regulator p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), and augmenting the activity of Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) (Wang et al., 2018). The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.