Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts
10:27

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts

Published on: July 25, 2020

mTOR kinase inhibitors as potential cancer therapeutic drugs

Shi-Yong Sun1

  • 1Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine and Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Cancer Letters
|June 25, 2013
PubMed

Insights

New mTOR kinase inhibitors (TORKinibs) show promise for improved cancer therapy by targeting both mTORC1 and mTORC2. This review explores their development and clinical potential beyond older rapalog drugs.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway regulates cell growth and survival.
  • mTOR signaling is frequently dysregulated in various cancers, making it a key therapeutic target.
  • Current mTOR inhibitors (rapalogs) primarily target mTORC1 with limited efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in the development of mTOR kinase inhibitors (TORKinibs).
  • To discuss the potential of TORKinibs to overcome limitations of existing rapalogs.
  • To identify challenges and future directions in TORKinib research and clinical application.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pre-clinical and clinical studies on TORKinibs.
  • Analysis of the mechanisms of action for TORKinibs targeting both mTORC1 and mTORC2.
  • Discussion of therapeutic efficacy and challenges associated with TORKinib development.

Main Results:

  • TORKinibs represent a novel class of mTOR inhibitors designed to target both mTORC1 and mTORC2.
  • Pre-clinical and clinical investigations are ongoing for several TORKinib candidates.
  • TORKinibs offer a potential strategy for enhanced anti-cancer activity compared to rapalogs.

Conclusions:

  • TORKinibs hold significant promise as a next-generation cancer therapy by comprehensively inhibiting the mTOR pathway.
  • Further research is needed to address challenges and optimize the clinical use of TORKinibs.
  • The development of TORKinibs signifies a crucial step forward in targeted cancer treatment strategies.
Keywords:
CancerInhibitorsKinasemTOR

More Related Videos

Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies09:29

Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies

Published on: September 30, 2016

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer06:51

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer

Published on: July 21, 2018

Related Concept Videos

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...