Everolimus
Everolimus works by blocking the activity of a protein called mTOR, a kinase (enzyme) that is found in high amounts in some cancer cells. Blocking mTOR stops the growth of cancer cells and the growth of blood vessels that support tumor growth. Everolimus also lowers the body’s immune response. Everolimus is a targeted therapy drug that acts as a kinase inhibitor, an angiogenesis inhibitor, and an immunosuppressant.
Votubia
Zortress
FDA label information for this drug is available at DailyMed.
Use in Cancer
Everolimus is approved to treat:
- Breast cancer. It is used in combination with exemestane in postmenopausal women with advanced hormone receptor–positive (HR+) breast cancer that is also HER2 negative (HER2-) and has not gotten better after treatment with letrozole or anastrozole
- Pancreatic cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and lung cancer (certain types). It is used in adults with progressive neuroendocrine tumors that cannot be removed by surgery, are locally advanced, or have metastasized (spread to other parts of the body).
- Renal cell carcinoma (a type of kidney cancer) that is advanced, in adults who have not gotten better after treatment with sunitinib or sorafenib.
- Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma in adults and children aged 1 year or older who have tuberous sclerosis and are not able to have surgery.
The use of everolimus to treat cancer is approved for the Afinitor and Afinitor Disperz brands. Everolimus is also approved to treat transplant rejection. This use is approved for the Zortress brand.
Everolimus is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.
More About Everolimus
Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.
MedlinePlus Information on Everolimus - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:
- warnings about this drug,
- what this drug is used for and how it is used,
- what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
- what you should know about this drug before using it,
- other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
- possible side effects.
Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.
Research Results and Related Resources
Targeted Therapy to Treat Cancer
Clinical Trials Accepting Patients
Find Clinical Trials for Everolimus - Check for trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials now accepting patients.