By causing cytoplasmic mislocation of p27 and p21, the Akt oncogenic kinase functionally inactivates these nuclear tumor suppressor proteins. Is cytoplasmic localization of p27 and p21 simply equivalent to loss of their function or are new functions acquired in the cytoplasm? Indeed, several lines of evidence suggest that cytoplasmic p27 and p21 may be oncoproteins with antiapoptotic activities.