Everolimus (RAD001): an mTOR inhibitor for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

The recent introduction of drugs that inhibit angiogenesis or the mTOR has provided new options for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma, a disease which often has a poor prognosis. Chemotherapy and cytokine therapy are largely ineffective. The 5-year survival rate is under 10%. Everolimus, an immunosuppressive drug widely used for the prevention of allograft rejection and an mTOR inhibitor, is one of the latest drugs undergoing clinical trials in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. It has been tested in patients with progressive disease after therapy with tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors (sunitinib, sorafenib or both), which interfere with signaling pathways, such as the VEGF pathway. Clinical efficacy results (progression-free survival) for everolimus are promising and the safety profile is good.

Keywords::

• everolimus
• metastatic renal cell carcinoma
• mTOR inhibitor
• progression-free survival
• targeted therapy

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Stephane Oudard has been a consultant to Pfizer, Roche and Wyeth and has received honoraria from Bayer, Pfizer, and Wyeth. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript. Funding for medical writing support was provided by Novartis.