Higher frequencies of AKT1 mutation were observed in several common cancers, including cervical, breast, osteosarcoma, brain, head and neck and colorectal in our study . AKT1 E17K was more commonly found in breast, brain and cervical cancer . Given the fact that III/IV patients are more common in AKT1 mutated group, it coincides with AKT inhibitors therapeutic prospects in a variety of advanced malignant tumors .
These data suggest that the different AKT paralogs have distinct roles in melanoma brain metastasis and that AKT and FAK may be promising therapeutic targets. Implications: This study suggests that AKT1E17K promotes melanoma brain metastasis through activation of focal adhesion kinase and provides a rationale for the therapeutic targeting of AKT and/or FAK to reduce melanoma metastasis.