Aktis activated by mTOR inhibition but does not account for cell protection Whilein most cancer-related models the mTOR cascade exerts antiapoptotic functionsdownstream of the PI3 kinase/AkT PKB signaling axis [27], few examples of cellprotection by inhibition of mTOR/S6K have been reported [28-31]. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is cancer.