Given the crucial function of mTOR in cellular signals from growth factors and energy status, such as in angiogenesis and cell proliferation, growth, differentiation, and apoptosis3–5,44,45, our findings of an association between the genetic variations in mTOR gene and cancer risk are biologically plausible and wide, including renal cell cancer7,21,23, prostate cancer15,17, breast cancer22, acute lymphocytic leukemia16,20, gastric cancer19,29, esophageal squamous cell cancer18, hepatocellular cancer23,28 and colorectal cancer8. The gene discussed is MTOR; the disease is cancer.