This is an international site for AFINITOR® (everolimus) and is intended for Health Care Professionals outside the U.S. The information on the site is not country-specific, and may contain information that is outside the approved indications in the country in which you are located. Please contact your local Novartis representative for the latest information specific to your country

I am a healthcare professional outside of the US I am a US Resident I am a patient outside of the US

AFINITOR® (everolimus) Logo | AFINITOR.com
AFINITOR is a once-daily oral inhibitor of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) whose disease has progressed on or after treatment with VEGF-targeted therapy
Afinitor now approved in the EU!
Afinitor International Website  |  For Healthcare Professionals Outside the U.S.  |  US Residents
Mechanism of Action
mTOR Inhibitors

Stay informed on the latest information, including news related to AFINITOR and other updates.

Register for Afinitor Updates
Afinitor Approved Countries

Learn about mTOR — The Science behind AFINITOR®

mTOR: A central regulator of cell proliferation, angiogenesis and cell metabolism

mTOR is an important therapeutic target because:

  • It is a key intracellular point of convergence for a number of signaling pathways that are abnormally activated in many types of cancer1,2
  • It appears to be a stable target that does not mutate 1,3,4

The use of mTOR inhibitors is considered a promising therapeutic approach in renal cell carcinoma.

  • The inhibition of mTOR may:
    1. Inhibit abnormal cell proliferation, tumor angiogenesis and abnormal cell metabolism
    2. Enhance the efficacy of other cancer treatments1,3,5

Learn more about the role of mTOR and the importance of mTOR inhibition

  • mTOR Inhibitors
    Discover how mTOR inhibitors may play an important role in the management of renal cell carcinoma.
  • Cell Proliferation
    Read about how activation of mTOR leads to enhanced cell proliferation.
  • Angiogenesis
    Learn more about mTOR activation in the promotion of angiogenesis.
  • Cell Metabolism
    Explore the role of mTOR in the regulation of cell metabolism.

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player

References:
1. Bjornsti MA, Houghton PJ. The TOR pathway: a target for cancer therapy. Nat Rev Cancer. 2004;4:335-348.
2. Shaw RJ, Cantley LC. Ras, PI(3)K and mTOR signalling controls tumour cell growth. Nature. 2006;441:424-430.
3. Faivre S, Kroemer G, Raymond E. Current development of mTOR inhibitors as anticancer agents. Nat Rev Drug Disc. 2006;5:671-688.
4. Huang S, Bjornsti MA, Houghton PJ. Rapamycins — Mechanism of action and cellular resistance. Cancer Biol Ther. 2003;2:222-232.
5. Guertin DA, Sabatini DM. An expanding role for mTOR in cancer. Trends Mol Med. 2005;11:353-361.