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mTOR as a senescence manipulation target: A forked road

Sarah Saoudaoui1, Monique Bernard1, Guillaume B Cardin1

  • 1Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada; Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Advances in Cancer Research
|April 16, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is key to cellular senescence, aging, and cancer. Inhibiting mTOR with rapamycin may offer therapeutic benefits for age-associated diseases and cancer by manipulating senescence.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Gerontology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Cellular senescence, cancer, and aging are interconnected biological processes.
  • Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling regulates cell metabolism, proliferation, survival, and homeostasis.
  • Dysregulation of mTOR is linked to age-associated diseases and cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of mTOR in cellular senescence.
  • To explore the interplay between senescence, autophagy, and mTOR.
  • To discuss therapeutic strategies targeting mTOR in senescence for age-associated diseases and cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on mTOR signaling pathways.
  • Analysis of the connection between mTOR, cellular senescence, and autophagy.
  • Discussion of pharmacological interventions targeting mTOR.

Main Results:

  • mTOR is a central regulator at the intersection of senescence, aging, and cancer.
  • Rapamycin and rapalogs demonstrate therapeutic potential in various diseases, including cancer.
  • Rapamycin is a known lifespan-extending drug across species.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting mTOR offers a promising avenue for manipulating senescence phenotypes.
  • Exploiting senescence-associated mTOR functions could lead to novel treatments for age-associated diseases and cancer.
  • Further research into mTOR's role in senescence is crucial for therapeutic development.
Keywords:
AgingApoptosisAutophagyLifespanMetabolismSenescenceSenolyticsmTOR

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