Research progress on the regulation mechanism of DEPTOR expression and its role in tumorigenesis.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a critical sensor and integrator of extracellular stimuli and intracellular signaling pathways, forming structurally and functionally distinct protein complexes (mTORC1, mTORC2, and mTORC3) with various proteins. It serves as a central regulator of vital biological processes like cell proliferation, survival, and autophagy. Numerous studies have linked mTOR pathway activation to tumor progression. DEPTOR, a common negative regulator of mTORC1 and mTORC2, exhibits complex loop regulatory mechanisms beyond simple mTOR pathway modulation. Depending on the cell type or tissue environment, DEPTOR can act as either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor gene. Given its complex role in tumorigenesis, precise regulation of DEPTOR expression across different tumor types is imperative. DEPTOR has emerged as a key focus in research on human malignant tumors. While recent years have seen through investigations into DEPTOR expression regulation in tumors, a systematic literature review is lacking. This review provides a detailed summary of the mechanisms regulating DEPTOR expression, an mTOR inhibitor in tumors, covering DNA induction, transcription, translation, and post-translational modification. Additionally, it explores the potential applications of DEPTOR/mTOR signaling axis-related compounds in tumor therapy.