The Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is the main upstream regulation pathway of survivin expression in different types of cancer.36 This finding coincides with our previous findings, in which we have proven that the HNSCC in Tgfbr1/Pten 2cKO mice was related to survivin expression through mTOR activation. The gene discussed is MTOR; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.