Loss of p(Ser2448)-mTOR staining was significantly linked to advanced stage (p = 0.0027), high-grade (p = 0.0045), nodal positive cancers (p = 0.0483), early tumor recurrence (p < 0.0001, independently from stage and grade, p = 0.0016), lack of Ets-related gene (ERG) fusion (p < 0.0001), reduced androgen receptor expression (p < 0.0001 each) and increased cell proliferation (p = 0.0092) in all cancers and in the subset of ERG-fusion-positive cancers.
This up-regulation in the AR levels is shown to increase sensitivity to low levels of androgen, leading to ligand-dependent downstream gene expression and tumor recurrence.