PI 3-kinase, mTOR, protein synthesis and cancer

The mTOR kinase is an essential mediator of growth signals that originate from PI3-kinase. Downstream targets of mTOR, p70 S6 kinase and 4E binding protein are important regulators of protein synthesis. Inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin interferes with oncogenic transformation and with tumor development by gain-of-function in PI 3-kinase signaling.