Targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling: A promising therapeutic approach for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is characterized by high prevalence, poor clinical outcomes, and unfavorable prognosis, significantly contributing to human mortality. It is well established that phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB, also known as AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of colorectal cancer. In this review, we examine the role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in a variety of cellular processes, including proliferation, autophagy, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in colorectal cancer. Furthermore, the latest advancements in the research on PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors are discussed, offering new insights for targeted therapy in colorectal cancer.