MTOR and cancer: PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is widely distributed in cells and is recognized as an important signaling pathway involved in diverse metabolisms, such as cell growth, proliferation and apoptosis.[68] It is reported that tumor cell proliferation can be inhibited by blocking the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway during the use of some anti-cancer drugs.[69] Inhibiting the expression of PI3K could enhance cell autophagy and apoptosis by regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.[70,71] MicroRNAs have been implicated in many critical cellular processes including apoptosis.