Welcome to TargetmTOR.com,

an educational resource dedicated to providing the latest information on mTOR (the mammalian Target Of Rapamycin), an important new therapeutic target in cancer.

mTOR Overview
A Central Regulator
Of Cell Proliferation,
Angiogenesis, and
Cell Metabolism
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Access relevant articles
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its role in cancer

mTOR is an important therapeutic target because:

  • It acts as a central regulator of cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and cell metabolism1-3
  • It is a key intracellular point of convergence for a number of signaling pathways that are abnormally activated in many types of cancer1,4
  • It appears to be a stable target that does not mutate1,5,7
  • Inhibiting mTOR:
    • May inhibit abnormal cell proliferation, tumor angiogenesis, and abnormal cell metabolism
    • May potentially enhance the efficacy of other cancer treatments1,6,7

TargetmTOR.com is sponsored by Novartis Oncology, a leader in the development of new approaches to cancer treatment, including mTOR inhibition. This site will be updated on an ongoing basis as new information and resources become available.

 

References:

  1. Bjornsti MA, Houghton PJ. The TOR pathway: a target for cancer therapy. Nat Rev Cancer. 2004;4:335-348.
  2. Wullschleger S, Loewith R, Hall MN. TOR signaling in growth and metabolism. Cell. 2006;124:471-484.
  3. Pouysségur J, Dayan F, Mazure N. Hypoxia signalling in cancer and approaches to enforce tumour regression. Nature. 2006;441:437-443.
  4. Shaw RJ, Cantley LC. Ras, PI(3)K and mTOR signalling controls tumour cell growth. Nature. 2006;441:424-430.
  5. Huang S, Bjornsti MA, Houghton PJ. Rapamycins—Mechanism of action and cellular resistance. Cancer Biol Ther. 2003;2:222-232.
  6. Guertin DA, Sabatini DM. An expanding role for mTOR in cancer. Trends Mol Med. 2005;11:353-361.
  7. Faivre S, Kroemer G, Raymond E. Current development of mTOR inhibitors as anticancer agents. Nat Rev Drug Disc. 2006;5:671-688.
Mark Kirschbaum, MD. Dir. New Drug Dev. Hema/HCT
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