Nevertheless, it is currently not known whether co-targeting of MEK and/or PI3K/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and of the death receptor pathway in melanoma can overcome intrinsic resistance to each of the anti-tumor agents in most instances, irrespective of the different genetic make-up of the tumors, and whether this approach can exert synergistic, rather than additive, anti-melanoma effects. The gene discussed is MTOR; the disease is melanoma.