Renal Cell Cancer or Renal Cell Carcinoma or RCC is the most common form of kidney cancer that is diagnosed in adults. RCC is fast growing and can often spread from the kidney to nearby organs.
The kidneys help in getting rid of waste and regulating fluid balance through tiny tubes known as tubules. RCC forms when the abnormal cancer cells start growing rapidly in the lining of tubules.
Its pathogenesis is related to the altered cellular responses to hypoxia. In this response, the mTOR protein (mammalian target of rapamycin) signalling pathways are implicated.
Everlolimus / Afinitor cost information
Everlolimus Mechanism of Action
Everlolimus (Brand Afinitor) presents a therapeutic option for treating advanced stage RCC.
It is an orally taken targeted therapy medication. It works by blocking the protein mTOR which plays a vital role in the regulation of blood vessel growth and regulation the division of the cancer cells.
Everlolimus / Afinitor uses
Everolimus is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating advanced renal cell cancer. Other uses of Everolimus as approved the FDA include:
• Progressive advanced tumours (pancreatic origins) in adult patients
• Renal angiomyolipoma
• Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in patients that do not require immediate surgery
• subependymal giant cell astrocytoma which is associated with TSC patients who have not received curative surgery
Everolimus is also the first mTOR inhibitor approved by the FDA to treat post-menopausal women with HER2-negative or advanced hormone receptor (HR) positive breast cancer.
Clinical Research
A clinical trial was conducted by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and other institutions in Europe to test the effectiveness of everolimus / afinitor in patients with advanced renal cell cancer. 400 patients were selected for this clinical trial. In this group of patients, the cancer had progressed even after treatment with Sunitinib (Brand Sutent) or Sorafenib (Brand Nexavar) or both of these medications.
The patients were randomly assigned to be treated with either everolimus / afinitor or a placebo or inactive substitute.
Conclusion
It was found that the median progression-free survival was 4 months in patients treated with everolimus which was an improvement when compared to the median 1.9 months
Everolimus / Afinitor side effects
Some everolimus side effects include:
• Unusual bleedings and bruising
• Low blood cell count or anemia, signs: unusual tiredness, light headedness, shortness of breath, cold hands and feet and/or pale skin
• High levels of blood sugar, signs: increased urination, dry mouth and thirst, fruity breath odour, blurred vision and/or headaches
• Wheezing, sudden coughing and/or breathing problems
• Slow healing of wounds, surgical incision, redness, warmth, swelling and/or oozing
Some of the more common symptoms may include:
• Urination problems
• High blood pressure and cholesterol increase or triglycerides
• Nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach problems and/or headaches
• Swelling in legs, ankles and/or feet
Everolimus / Afinitor Dosage
Everolimus / Afinitor tablets comes in the following doses:
• Everolimus (Brand Afinitor) 0.25mg tablets
• Everolimus (Brand Afinitor) 0.5mg tablets
• Everolimus (Brand Afinitor) 0.75mg tablets
• Everolimus (Brand Afinitor) 5mg tablets
• Everolimus (Brand Afinitor) 10mg tablets
Everlolimus cost information
The information provided on the page is meant for the purpose of being helpful and educational. It should not be considered as medical advice.
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