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mTOR as a target for cancer therapy

P J Houghton1, S Huang

  • 1Department of Molecular Pharmacology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105-2794, USA. peter.houghton@stjude.org

Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
|October 17, 2003
PubMed

Insights

The target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway regulates cell growth and division, sensing nutrients and growth factors. Because many cancers rely on similar growth signals, targeting mTOR offers a promising strategy for molecular cancer therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a critical regulator of cellular processes.
  • mTOR integrates signals from growth factors like insulin-like growth factors and cellular nutrient levels.
  • Dysregulation of cellular growth and division is a hallmark of cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of targeting the mTOR pathway for cancer treatment.
  • To establish the rationale for tumor-selective activity of mTOR inhibitors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on mTOR signaling in normal and malignant cells.
  • Analysis of the role of insulin-like growth factor signaling in tumor growth.
  • Evaluation of transforming events in cancer relevant to mTOR pathway activation.

Main Results:

  • mTOR acts as a central sensor for mitogenic stimuli, controlling cell growth and division.
  • Many tumors utilize autocrine or paracrine signaling via the type-I insulin-like growth factor receptor.
  • A strong rationale exists for targeting mTOR in cancer based on frequent oncogenic events.

Conclusions:

  • The mTOR pathway is a viable and attractive target for molecular-targeted cancer therapy.
  • Tumor-selective activity of mTOR inhibitors is anticipated due to specific transforming events in cancer.

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