Catalytic mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors as antineoplastic agents

Abstract

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a major therapeutic target in the treatment of hematological malignancies, as it controls cellular events of high importance for regulation of mRNA translation and protein production. Rapalogs, or first-generation mTOR inhibitors, have produced only modest clinical benefits so far. Limitations to rapalogs likely result from the partial inhibition of mTORC1 substrates and lack of effects on mTORC2. Efforts toward the development of agents with more potent and complete inhibitory effects on the mTOR pathway have resulted in the development of catalytic mTOR inhibitors. Key preclinical and early clinical investigations of several catalytic mTOR inhibitors and potential resistance mechanisms to their activities are summarized here.

Keywords::

• mTOR
• leukemia
• lymphoma

Potential conflict of interest

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at www.informahealthcare.com/lal.