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Review
. 2024 Jul 19;12(7):1610.
doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12071610.

The Role of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Axis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Qian Jiang  1   2 , Jingyi Xiao  1 , Yao-Ching Hsieh  2 , Neha Love Kumar  2 , Lei Han  1 , Yuntao Zou  3 , Huang Li  1
Affiliations
Review

The Role of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Axis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Qian Jiang et al. Biomedicines. .

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common malignancies globally, representing a significant public health problem with a poor prognosis. The development of efficient therapeutic strategies for HNSCC prevention and treatment is urgently needed. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR (PAM) signaling pathway is a highly conserved transduction network in eukaryotic cells that promotes cell survival, growth, and cycle progression. Dysfunction in components of this pathway, such as hyperactivity of PI3K, loss of PTEN function, and gain-of-function mutations in AKT, are well-known drivers of treatment resistance and disease progression in cancer. In this review, we discuss the major mutations and dysregulations in the PAM signaling pathway in HNSCC. We highlight the results of clinical trials involving inhibitors targeting the PAM signaling pathway as a strategy for treating HNSCC. Additionally, we examine the primary mechanisms of resistance to drugs targeting the PAM pathway and potential therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: HNSCC; PAM signaling pathway; inhibitors; resistance.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The PAM signaling pathway composition and function.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The PAM signaling mutations in HNSCC.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Strategy may prevent tumor resistance to PAM pathway inhibitors.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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