Inhibition of Mammalian target of rapamycin by rapamycin causes the regression of carcinogen-induced skin tumor lesions.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The activation of Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway represents a frequent event in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) progression, thus raising the possibility of using specific mTOR inhibitors for the treatment of SCC patients. In this regard, blockade of mTOR with rapamycin prevents the growth of human head and neck SCC cells when xenotransplanted into immunodeficient mice. However, therapeutic responses in xenograft tumors are not always predictive of clinical anticancer activity.

Experimental design

As genetically defined and chemically induced animal cancer models often reflect better the complexity of the clinical setting, we used here a two-step chemical carcinogenesis model to explore the effectiveness of rapamycin for the treatment of skin SCC.

SUBMITTER: Amornphimoltham P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3407681 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature