MTOR and neoplasm: mTOR is known as the core receptor of intracellular nutrition, stress and energy state.[35, 36] The anabolic processes such as glutamine synthesis are synchronized by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which exists in two forms, mTORC1 and mTORC2, to regulate cell survival and growth in response to nutrient availability.[37] Targeting mTORC1 has been shown to suppress tumor initiating cells and steer cancer initiation and metastasis.[38, 39] But it remains unknown the role of mTOR in regulating cell survival and proliferation, especially in the face of glutamine deficiency.