The Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) pathway is considered a central regulator of protein synthesis and of cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. However, the role of the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway in lung carcinoma remains unknown. We previously showed that fibronectin, a matrix glycoprotein highly expressed in tobacco-related lung disease, stimulates non–small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell growth and survival. Herein, we explore the role of the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway in fibronectin-induced NSCLC cell growth. We found that fibronectin stimulated the phosphorylation of Akt, an upstream inducer of mTOR, and induced the phosphorylation of p70S6K1 and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E–binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), two downstream targets of mTOR in NSCLC cells (H1792 and H1838), whereas it inhibited the phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10, a tumor suppressor protein that antagonizes the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signal. In addition, treatment with fibronectin inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of LKB1 as well as the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPKα), both known to down-regulate mTOR. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR, blocked the fibronectin-induced phosphorylation of p70S6K and 4E-BP1. Akt small interfering RNA (siRNA) and an antibody against the fibronectin-binding integrin α₅β₁ also blocked the p70S6K phosphorylation in response to fibronectin. In contrast, an inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (PD98095) had no effect on fibronectin-induced phosphorylation of p70S6K. Moreover, the combination of rapamycin and siRNA for Akt blocked fibronectin-induced cell proliferation. Taken together, these observations suggest that fibronectin-induced stimulation of NSCLC cell proliferation requires activation of the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway and is associated with inhibition of LKB1/AMPK signaling. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(1): 315-23)