Ara-c could promote the expression of proapoptotic genes Bax, caspase-9, caspase-3 in mRNA and protein levels and inhibit the expression of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2 in renal carcinoma cells. The function of Ara-c is similar to that of ly294002 in some respects, which ultimately regulates apoptosis-related genes by inhibiting the activity of the AKT/PI3K signaling pathway. The effects of Ara-c and 1y294002 on AKT expression were simultaneously tested at mRNA and protein levels. The results showed that Ara-c and 1y294002 could not inhibite AKT of the mRNA and protein level, but decrease the phosphorylation level of AKT. The phosphorylation status of AKT is critical for the activation of the AKT/PI3K signaling pathway. The experiments had shown that Ara-c could inhibite the activity of the AKT/PI3K signaling pathway and promote cell apoptosis.