Overexpressed eIF4E Is Functionally Active in Surgical Margins of Head and Neck Cancer Patients via Activation of the Akt/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Pathway

Abstract

Overexpression of eIF4E is functionally active in tumor margins through activation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. The greater degree of expression of downstream targets and upstream regulators of mTOR in margins compared with the tumors indicates preferential activation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in margins overexpressing eIF4E. Rapamycin analogs can potentially be used as adjuvant therapy for patients with eIF4E-positive margins.