Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Blanco de la rapamicina en los mamíferos
Mammalian target of rapamycin (muh-MA-lee-un TAR-get … RAP-uh-MY-sin)
A protein that helps control several cell functions, including cell division and survival, and binds to rapamycin and other drugs. Mammalian target of rapamycin may be more active in some types of cancer cells than it is in normal cells. Blocking mammalian target of rapamycin may cause the cancer cells to die. It is a type of serine/threonine protein kinase. Also called mTOR.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.