The mTOR pathway in lung cancer and implications for therapy and biomarker analysis

J Thorac Oncol. 2012 Jun;7(6):947-53. doi: 10.1097/JTO.0b013e31825581bd.

Abstract

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that functions as a key regulatory protein in normal cell growth, survival, metabolism, development, and angiogenic pathways. Deregulation of these processes is a required hallmark of cancer, and dysregulation of mTOR signaling frequently occurs in a wide variety of malignancies, including lung cancer. Targeting of mTOR is thus an attractive strategy in the development of therapeutic agents against lung cancer. In this review, the mTOR-signaling pathway is described, highlighting opportunities for therapeutic intervention and biomarker analysis, and clinical trials in lung cancer including both non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • MTOR protein, human
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases