Afinitor (Everolimus) for Kidney Cancer

Overview
Afinitor is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in adults after failure of treatment with either sunitinib or sorafenib. It is used as a second-line option when initial therapies do not stop the disease. Afinitor is also known by its drug name, everolimus.

Everolimus is a kinase inhibitor. It works by blocking a protein called mTOR, which helps regulate cell growth and division. By inhibiting this protein, everolimus may slow the growth and spread of kidney cancer cells.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Afinitor is taken orally (by mouth) once daily. It is available in tablet form and should be swallowed whole at the same time each day, with or without food. It should not be combined with Afinitor Disperz (the oral suspension formulation) to achieve a daily dose. The drug should be taken exactly as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of Afinitor in people with RCC include stomatitis (inflammation or sores in the mouth), infections, rash, fatigue, diarrhea, edema (swelling), abdominal pain, nausea, fever, asthenia (weakness or lack of energy), cough, headache, and decreased appetite.

Rare but serious side effects may include noninfectious pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs not caused by infection), severe infections, hypersensitivity reactions (serious allergic responses), angioedema (swelling under the skin), renal failure (loss of kidney function), impaired wound healing, metabolic disorders (such as high blood sugar or cholesterol), myelosuppression (reduced bone marrow function), radiation sensitization and recall (severe reaction when combined with radiation therapy), and embryo-fetal toxicity (harm to an unborn baby). Everolimus can also reduce the immune response to vaccines and increase the risk of infection from live vaccines.

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Label: Afinitor — Everolimus Table; Afinitor Disperz — Everolimus Tablet, for Suspension — DailyMed