mTOR Complexes and Their Role in Oncogenesis, Metastasis, and Targeted Drug Impediment
Abstract
mTOR, a serine-threonine kinase, functions as a core component of mTORC1 and mTORC2, which regulate cellular processes such as growth, protein synthesis, and autophagy in response to nutrient and growth factor signals. It is a central player in several signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, TSC1/TSC2/Rheb, AMPK/LKB1, and VAM6/RagGTPases. Dysregulated mTOR is implicated in oncogenesis and cancer progression, and while mTOR-targeted therapies make theoretical sense as a potential therapy, clinical trials have been disappointing. Further research is necessary to elucidate mTOR’s precise role in cancer and the intricate mechanisms cancer cells employ to evade mTOR inhibition to develop more effective therapies.
Keywords: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Molecular Biology, mTOR Signaling, Oncogenesis, Metastasis, Drug Resistance
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Not applicable; the research article submitted is a meta-analysis/review article.
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