The Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, TargetScan software analyses, and subsequent verification of mRNA expression by real-time PCR identified mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) as direct, and Fas and X-linked inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein (XIAP) as indirect candidate targets for miR-100 involved in lymph node metastasis.
LC3 expression in poorly differentiated CRC is higher than that in well-differentiated CRC, and the expression of mTOR, Raptor, Rictor, and LC3 in lymph node metastasis is higher than that obtained in the absence of lymph node metastasis.
Within the colorectal cancer population, a high level of expression of mTOR mRNA was related to the presence of lymph node metastases (P = .031), advanced pathologic stage (P = .05), and presence of persistent disease or tumor recurrence (P = .035).
By clinicopathologic analysis, Akt activation was correlated with lymph node metastasis in general, but nodal metastasis was correlated with rS6 activation in AC and with mTOR activation in SCC.