Figure X: PI3K, AKT, mTOR signaling cascade
Why is this pathway important for lymphoma?
Th PI3K/ AKT/ mTOR cascade contains multiple points where it is inappropriately activated or abnormal. This pathway is characterized as an oncogene addictive pathway because certain lymphomas can become completely reliant upon this pathway. This cascade is upset when one of these components experiences a loss of heterozygosity or acquires a dominant mutation. mTOR has been a major therapeutic target recently. mTor’s job is as a sensor of growth signals. It sits downstream from several pathways and collects various information from the microenvironment such as: oxygen concentration, energy and nutrient levels and external growth signals. It then takes this information and integrates it and decides whether the cell should grow or not.
lymphoma 