PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is an intracellular signalling pathway important in apoptosis and hence cancer    e.g. breast cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer.



PI3K activation activates AKT which activates mTOR. ('PDK1' in the diagram is Phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1.)

In many cancers this pathway is overactive reducing apoptosis and allowing proliferation. Thus some experimental cancer drugs aim to inhibit the signalling sequence at some point.

PI3K may be overactive because PTEN is faulty or deficient.