Roles of mTOR and p-mTOR in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

Abstract

<br/><b>Objective</b>: This study aimed to examine the relationship between expression of mammal target of rapamycin(mTOR) and phosphorylation of mTOR (p-mTOR) protein in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways ingastrointestinal stromal tumors and relatiuonships with clinical factors. <br/><b>Methods</b>: Immunohistochemistry wasused to detect the expression of the associated proteins mTOR, p-mTOR, and phosphorylation of the tumorsuppressor genes PTEN, P27, VEGF, and EGFR in 40 cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, with divisioninto a very low and low risk group as well as a moderate and high risk group. <br/><b>Results</b>: The positive rate ofmTOR and p-mTOR was significantly increased in the moderate and high risk group compared with the verylow and low risk group. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). When grouped according to size, thepositive mTOR expression rate exhibited a statistical difference (P<0.05), which was significantly increased inthe group of tumors larger than 5 cm. The difference in the positive mTOR and p-mTOR expression rate exhibitno statistical significance among the PTEN, P27, VEGF, and EGFR expression subgroups (P>0.05). <br/><b>Conclusion</b>:The different expressions of mTOR and p-mTOR in the signal transduction pathway of gastrointestinal stromaltumor in the different degree-of-risk groups suggested that the mTOR and p-mTOR of the signal transductionpathway serve an important function in the occurrence and development of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.