Inactivation of PTEN is responsible for the survival of Hep G2 cells in response to etoposide-induced damage

► Hep G2 cells are failed to response in etoposide-induced cytotoxicity. ► Hep G2 cells persist with etoposide-induced DNA damage and escape G2/M arrest. ► Defects of Akt/PTEN axis are responsible for the survivability of Hep G2 cells. ► Overexpression of myr-Akt confers etoposide-induced survivability in cells. ► Thus, chemoresistivity of HCC may be associated with Akt/PTEN signaling pathway.