Aim: This study aimed to develop an effective risk predictor for patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer (CRC). Materials & methods: The prognostic value of p-mTOR (Ser2448) levels was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis. Results: The levels of p-mTOR were increased in CRC specimens and significantly correlated with poor prognosis in patients with stage II and III CRC. Notably, the p-mTOR level was an independent poor prognostic factor for disease-free survival and overall survival in stage II CRC. Conclusion: Aberrant mTOR activation was significantly associated with the risk of recurrence or death in patients with stage II and III CRC, thus this activated proteins that may serve as a potential biomarker for high-risk CRC.
Keywords: biomarker; colorectal cancer; phospho-mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin; prognosis.