Their pooled analyses showed that mTOR/p-mTOR expression was significantly associated with the worse outcomes for differentiation degree (OR: 2.63; 95 % CI: 1.71–4.05; P = 0.001; I2 = 29.3 %, p = 0.216; Table 3 and Fig. 2a), tumor invasion (OR: 1.48; 95 % CI: 1.02–2.13; P = 0.037; I2 = 0.0 %, p = 0.546; Table 3 and Fig. 2b), TNM stage (OR: 2.25; 95 % CI: 1.05–4.82; P = 0.037; I2 = 82.9 %, p < 0.001; Table 3 and Fig. 2c) and LNM (OR: 1.82; 95 % CI: 1.06–3.11; P = 0.029; I2 = 69.2 %, p = 0.002; Table 3 and Fig. 2d). Here, MTOR is linked to neoplasm.