The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is aberrantly activated in oesophageal cancer cells (26, 27), and the related proteins downstream of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway (P70S6K and 4EBP1) can regulate cell proliferation- and cell cycle-related proteins (28–30), as well as apoptosis-related proteins (31) in human oesophageal cancer cells. This evidence concerns the gene EIF4EBP1 and carcinoma of esophagus.