Everolimus for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction: The efficacy of sequential everolimus (RAD001, Afinitor®), an orally administered inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), is one of the therapeutic options in patients with advanced renal cell cancer (RCC). The purpose of this review is to discuss the mTOR pathway and to update current knowledge of the role of everolimus in metastatic RCC.

Areas covered: The function of mTOR and its inhibition, the early development trials of everolimus, the Phase II trial that lead to the Phase III study and ultimately to FDA approval are all discussed in this review. Literature utilized for this review consists of PUBMED for both description of the mTOR pathway and its role, in addition to publications using everolimus in RCC.

Expert opinion: Everolimus is currently the only agent with a proven progression-free survival improvement for patients who progressed on a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Future studies may further shed light on the most optimal use of everolimus.