The Medical Advisor

Abstract The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a central regulator of cellular growth, metabolism, and survival, integrating nutrient availability, growth factor signaling, and cellular stress responses. Chronic activation of mTOR signaling has been implicated in aging, metabolic dysfunction, and oncogenesis. Pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic inhibition of mTOR—most notably via rapamycin, rapalogs, caloric restriction, and metabolic modulators—has consistently extended lifespan and healthspan in multiple model organisms and demonstrated antineoplastic effects in both preclinical and clinical settings. This article reviews current evidence linking mTOR signaling to aging and cancer biology and discusses the translational potential and limitations of mTOR modulation as a preventive strategy for age-related disease and malignancy. Introduction Aging and cancer share overlapping biological mechanisms, including genomic instability, dysregulated nutrient sensing, chronic inflammat...