Dysregulation of the mTOR pathway secondary to mutations or a hostile microenvironment contributes to cancer and poor wound healing.

Either heredity mutations or adverse microenvironment conditions may result in dysregulation of the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. The former lead to clinical syndromes such as tuberous sclerosis, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, and Cowden's disease, which are characterized by hamartomatous growth or cancer. The latter can be associated with poor wound healing as described by Goren et al. (2009, this issue).