MTOR and colorectal carcinoma: We further showed that PPII-induced autophagy is associated with the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, as evidenced by the enhanced reduction of p-mTOR and the increment of LC3B-II in PPII-treated CRC cells in the presence of an mTOR inhibitor rapamycin compared to those treated with PPII alone.