The prominently increased p-S6K1 levels in radio-resistant breast cancer stem cells and distinct reversal of these levels by combining radiation and everolimus compared to control MCF cells indicate that p-S6K1 is at least partially responsible for treatment failure, and that inhibition of the mTOR-S6K1 pathway may provide an additional targeted approach to improve the outcome of radiotherapy. The gene discussed is RPS6KB1; the disease is breast cancer.