Why mTOR in Breast Cancer?
Summary of the Role of mTOR in Breast Cancer
- mTOR increases the production of proteins that stimulate cell growth and proliferation, cellular metabolism, and angiogenesis
- Aberrant mTOR activity, as a result of signaling defects in the PI3K/Akt pathway, has been implicated in the development and progression of many cancers,1 including breast cancer2
- mTOR signaling may be related to ER activation and adaptive estrogen hypersensitivity3
- —mTOR pathway signaling is increased in ER+ tumor cells resistant to endocrine therapy4
- —mTOR activation can predict a worse clinical outcome for patients treated with endocrine therapy2
- —Increased mTOR signaling has been associated with resistance to standard anti-HER2 therapies5
- Increased mTOR activity, as a result of upstream signaling defects, results in uncontrolled cell proliferation and promotes tumor neovascularization
References
- Wullschleger et al. Cell. 2006;124:471-484.
- Perez-Tenorio et al. Br J Cancer. 2002;86:540-545.
- Boulay et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2005;11:5319-5328.
- deGraffenried et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2004;10:8059-8067.
- Nahta et al. Breast Cancer Res. 2006;8:215.