MTOR and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: The PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is crucial for regulating essential cellular functions such as differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA repair.29 Research has shown that abnormal activation and dysregulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway frequently occur in tumor cells, often resulting in uncontrolled tumor proliferation and impaired DNA damage repair.30 For example, studies have indicated that activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway correlates with radiotherapy resistance in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).