How Afinitor Works—mTOR Inhibition

Afinitor mechanism of action animation

The mechanism of action of Afinitor (everolimus) tablets

Afinitor is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of patients with progressive neuroendocrine tumors of pancreatic origin (PNET) that are unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic. The safety and effectiveness of Afinitor in the treatment of patients with carcinoid tumors have not been established.

Afinitor is an allosteric inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine-threonine kinase, downstream of the PI3K/AKT pathway.

The mTOR pathway is dysregulated in several human cancers. Afinitor binds to an intracellular protein, FKBP-12, resulting in an inhibitory complex formation (mTORC1) and thus inhibition of mTOR kinase activity.

Afinitor reduced the activity of S6 ribosomal protein kinase (S6K1) and eukaryotic elongation factor 4E-binding protein (4E-BP1), downstream effectors of mTOR, involved in protein synthesis. In addition, Afinitor inhibited the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (e.g., HIF-1) and reduced the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Inhibition of mTOR by Afinitor has been shown to reduce cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and glucose uptake in in vitro and/or in vivo studies.

For more information, download the full Prescribing Information.

Advanced Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

AFINITOR is indicated for the treatment of progressive neuroendocrine tumors of pancreatic origin (PNET) in patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic disease. The safety and effectiveness of AFINITOR in the treatment of patients with carcinoid tumors have not been established.

Important Safety Information

There have been reports of non-infectious pneumonitis, infections and kidney failure (including acute renal failure) in patients taking AFINITOR, some with fatal outcomes. Oral ulceration is the most frequently occurring adverse event and occurs in approximately 70% of AFINITOR-treated patients, which were mostly Grade 1 or 2. Grade 3 or 4 stomatitis was reported in 6% of patients with neuroendocrine tumors. Elevations of serum creatinine, proteinuria, glucose, lipids, and triglycerides and reductions of hemoglobin, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and platelets have also been reported.

Please see additional Important Safety Information.

 

Dosing

Dosing and administration information for Afinitor (everolimus) tablets.

 

Clinical Trial

Clinical data on Afinitor in the treatment of advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET).