Moreover, the enriched mTOR signaling pathway indicated that STK11 mutation is positively associated with the worse survival of LUAD patients, because the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling plays an essential role in promoting tumorigenesis, cancer development by various mechanisms, including those involving gene mutation, PTEN downregulation and activation of oncogene receptors (22–24). This evidence concerns the gene PTEN and cancer.