Gastrointestinal tumors account for five of the top 10 causes of mortality from all cancers (colorectal, liver, stomach, esophageal and pancreatic cancer). Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is commonly dysregulated in various human cancers. As a core component of the mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2), Rictor is a key effector molecule of the PI3K/Akt pathway. A high alteration rate of Rictor has been observed in gastrointestinal tumors, and such Rictor alterations are often associated with resistance to chemotherapy and related adverse clinical outcomes. However, the exact roles of Rictor in gastrointestinal tumors remain elusive. The aim of the present study was to critically discuss the following: i) Mutation and biological characteristics of Rictor in tumors with a detailed overview of Rictor in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, autophagy and drug resistance; ii) the role of Rictor in tumors of the digestive system, particularly colorectal, hepatobiliary, gastric, esophageal and pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma; and iii) the current status and prospects of targeted therapy for Rictor by inhibiting Akt activation. Despite the growing realization of the importance of Rictor/mTORC2 in cancer, the underlying mechanistic details remain poorly understood; this needs to change in order for the development of efficient targeted therapies and re‑sensitization of therapy‑resistant cancers to be made possible.
Keywords: Akt; PI3K; Rictor; gastrointestinal tumors; mTOR.