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Targeting mTOR Signaling in Ovarian Cancer

  • Gynecological Cancer (H Katabuchi and H Tashiro, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The mammalian (mechanistic) target of rapamycin (mTOR) is frequently activated in epithelial ovarian cancer and is regarded as an attractive therapeutic target. Preclinical investigations using mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitors have demonstrated promising antitumor activity on ovarian cancer both in the setting of monotherapy and in combination with cytotoxic agents. Based on promising preclinical data, mTORC1 inhibitors are currently being evaluated in phase I/II trials in patients with ovarian cancer. In an effort to overcome resistance to mTORC1 inhibitors, the novel mTOR kinase inhibitors that inhibit both mTORC1 and mTORC2, or dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor have recently been developed. In this report, we review the scientific rationale and evidence for the potential clinical benefits provided by mTOR inhibitors for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

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Abbreviations

CCC:

Clear cell carcinoma

SAC:

Serous adenocarcinoma

mTOR:

mammalian target of rapamycin

mTORC:

mTOR complex

S6K-1:

Ribosomal S6 kinase-1

4E-BP1:

elF4E binding protein 1

PI3K:

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

cisplatin:

cis-diamminedichloroplatinum

PTEN:

Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Yuko Nishimura for providing secretarial assistance.

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

ᅟ

Conflict of Interest

Seiji Mabuchi, Tomoyuki Sasano, Mahiru Kawano, Hiromasa Kuroda, and Tadashi Kimura declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    Seiji Mabuchi, Tomoyuki Sasano, Mahiru Kawano, Hiromasa Kuroda & Tadashi Kimura

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  1. Seiji Mabuchi
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  2. Tomoyuki Sasano
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  3. Mahiru Kawano
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  4. Hiromasa Kuroda
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  5. Tadashi Kimura
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Seiji Mabuchi.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Gynecological Cancer

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Mabuchi, S., Sasano, T., Kawano, M. et al. Targeting mTOR Signaling in Ovarian Cancer. Curr Obstet Gynecol Rep 4, 11–17 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-014-0102-y

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