Targeting the mTOR Pathway in Tumor Malignancy

Title:Targeting the mTOR Pathway in Tumor Malignancy

Volume: 13 Issue: 3

Author(s): Hengmiao Cheng, Marlena Walls, Sangita M. Baxi and Min-Jean Yin

Affiliation:

Keywords: AKT, cancer therapeutics, mTOR, PI3K

Abstract: The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a critical role in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation, and metabolism by integrating growth factor stimulation and energy/nutrient input through a complex signaling network. The mTOR kinase is a part of two structurally and functionally distinct multiple protein complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2. The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is rapamycin-sensitive and mediates temporal control of cell growth by regulating several cellular processes, such as translation, transcription, and nutrient transport while the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) is insensitive to rapamycin and is involved in spatial control of cell growth via cytoskeleton regulation. Here we discuss the mechanism of mTOR regulation in tumor malignancy through a variety of signaling pathways and the potential of mTOR inhibitors for the treatment of cancer.

Cite this article as:

Cheng Hengmiao, Walls Marlena, M. Baxi Sangita and Yin Min-Jean, Targeting the mTOR Pathway in Tumor Malignancy, Current Cancer Drug Targets 2013; 13 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568009611313030005