AKT1 and esophageal cancer: In another study it was reported that, MIF has been linked to esophageal cancer growth through activating the Akt (Protein kinase B), MEK/ERK (MAPK kinase/extracellular signal–regulated kinase), and NF-κB (Nuclear factor kappa B) pathways, as well as decreasing the expression of the tumor suppressor gene GSK3β (glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta) (139).