Everolimus (everolimus)

Antineoplastic - mTOR Kinase Inhibitors Oral Tablet; Oral Tablet For Suspension

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data

Overview

Everolimus, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase, is an antineoplastic agent and macrolide immunosuppressive agent.

Everolimus, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), is an antineoplastic agent and macrolide immunosuppressive agent. Everolimus inhibits antigenic and interleukin (IL-2 and IL-15) stimulated activation and proliferation of T and B lymphocytes. Serine/threonine kinases, such as mTOR, are involved in various cascades of intracellular signaling events that regulate cell growth and proliferation and/or influence processes critical to cell survival and tumor progression (e.g., angiogenesis, metastasis).

Everolimus binds with high affinity to the intracellular protein FK506 binding protein-12 (FKBP-12), forming a drug-protein complex with mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1 or everolimus:FKBP-12) that binds to and inhibits the activation of mTOR. This disruption of mTOR reduces the activity of downstream effectors (i.e., S6 ribosomal protein kinase (S6K1), eukaryotic elongation factor 4E-binding protein (4E-BP1)), thereby blocking progression of cells from G1 into S phase and, subsequently, inducing cell growth arrest and apoptosis. S6K1 is a substrate of mTORC1 and phosphorylates the activation domain 1 of the estrogen receptor, resulting in ligand-independent activation of the receptor.

The everolimus:FKBP-12 complex has no effect on calcineurin activity. Everolimus also inhibits expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (e.g., HIF-1alpha), thereby reducing the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Inhibition of mTOR by everolimus has been shown to reduce cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and glucose uptake in vitro and/or in vivo.

Constitutive activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR pathway can lead to endocrine resistance in breast cancer. Estrogen-dependent and HER2-positive breast cancer cells are sensitive to the inhibitory effects of everolimus in vitro. Concomitant use of everolimus with Akt, HER2, or aromatase inhibitors (e.g., anastrozole, exemestane, letrozole) enhances the anti-tumor activity of everolimus in a synergistic manner.

Loss or inactivation of tuberin-sclerosis complexes 1 and 2 (TSC1 and TSC2), oncogene suppressors that are two of the regulators of mTORC1 signaling, leads to activation of downstream signaling. In the genetic disorder tuberous sclerosis, inactivating mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 gene leads to hematoma formation throughout the body; subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGA) may develop in patients with tuberous sclerosis.

Following oral administration of doses ranging from 5-70 mg in patients with advanced solid tumors, peak everolimus concentrations are attained within 1-2 hours. Steady-state concentrations are achieved within 2 weeks of once-daily dosing in patients with advanced solid tumors. In patients with SEGA, intrapatient steady-state trough everolimus concentrations were dose-proportional at daily dosages of 1.35-14.4 mg/m2.

In renal allograft patients, steady-state peak plasma concentrations and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) values were dose-proportional at dosages of 0.5-2 mg twice daily; steady-state concentrations were achieved by day 4, with an accumulation in blood concentrations of twofold to threefold compared with exposure following the first dose. In healthy individuals, administration of 10-mg tablets with a high-fat meal reduces peak plasma concentrations and AUC of everolimus by 54 and 22%, respectively; administration with a light-fat meal reduces peak plasma concentration and AUC by 42 and 32%, respectively. In healthy individuals, administration of 9-mg tablets for oral suspension with a high-fat meal reduced everolimus peak plasma concentrations and AUC by 60 and 12%, respectively; administration with a low-fat meal reduced peak plasma concentrations and AUC by 50 and 30%, respectively.

However, food has no effect on the post-absorption phase concentration-time profile of everolimus. In healthy individuals and in those with moderate hepatic impairment, everolimus is approximately 74% bound to plasma proteins. The drug has been shown to cross the placenta and distribute into milk in rats.

Everolimus is metabolized by the cytochrome P-450 (CYP) microsomal enzyme system, principally by isoenzyme 3A4. Six metabolites of everolimus have been detected in human blood and have been shown in animal studies to exhibit 100-times less activity than everolimus. The mean elimination half-life of everolimus is approximately 30 hours.

Following administration of a single 3-mg dose in patients receiving concomitant cyclosporine, approximately 80 and 5% of the dose is excreted in feces and urine, respectively, as inactive metabolites.

The AUC of everolimus tablets for oral suspension (Afinitor(R) Disperz(R)) was equivalent to the AUC of everolimus tablets (Afinitor(R)); peak plasma concentrations were 20-36% lower for everolimus tablets for oral suspension compared with everolimus tablets. Following daily administration, predicted steady-state trough concentrations were similar in patients receiving everolimus tablets for oral suspension and everolimus tablets.

A cross-study comparison of pharmacokinetic data reported higher exposure to everolimus among Japanese patients compared with non-Japanese patients. Data from a population pharmacokinetic analysis indicate that clearance of everolimus is 20% higher in black patients than in Caucasian patients. The relevance of these differences to the safety and efficacy of everolimus in Japanese or black patients has not been established.

In patients with cancer, no apparent relationship has been observed between oral clearance and age or sex.

USES: Everolimus is used to treat various types of cancer (such as kidney, breast, pancreas, lung, stomach/intestinal cancers). Everolimus is also used in people with a certain genetic disorder (tuberous sclerosis complex) to treat certain types of tumors in the brain or kidney. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer or tumor cells.

Generic name: everolimus
Pronunciation: (E-ver-OH-li-mus)
Drug class: Antineoplastic - mTOR Kinase Inhibitors
Therapeutic class: Immunosuppressive Agents

Reference product & biosimilars

No reference, biosimilar or interchangeable associated with this drug.

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Indications

The following indications are listed for Everolimus:

  • Estrogen Receptor (Er)-Positive, Her2-Negative Postmenopausal Advanced Breast Cancer
  • Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
  • Nonfunctional Neuroendocrine Tumor Of Gastrointestinal Origin
  • Nonfunctional Neuroendocrine Tumor Of Lung Origin
  • Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor
  • Renal Angiomyolipoma With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
  • Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma Associated With Tuberous Sclerosis

Also known as: Er(+), Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor2 (Her2)-Negative Postmenopausal Advanced Breast Cancer, Estrogen Receptor (Er)-Positive, Erbb2-Negative Postmenopausal Advanced Breast Cancer, Estrogen Receptor (Er)-Positive, Her2-Negative Postmenopausal Metastatic Breast Cancer, Malignant Tumor Of Islets Of Langerhans, Metastatic Carcinoma Of Kidney, Metastatic Grawitz Tumor, Metastatic Hypernephroid Carcinoma, Metastatic Hypernephroma, Metastatic Kidney Adenocarcinoma, Metastatic Nephroid Carcinoma, Metastatic Renal Adenocarcinoma, Metastatic Renal Carcinoma, Metastatic Renal Cell Adenocarcinoma, Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer, Non-Functional Neuroendocrine Tumor Of Gastrointestinal Origin, Non-Functional Neuroendocrine Tumor Of Lung Origin, Nonfunctional Carcinoid Tumor Of Gastrointestinal Origin, Nonfunctional Carcinoid Tumor Of Lung Origin, Nonfunctional Net Of Gastrointestinal Origin, Nonfunctional Net Of Lung Origin.

Dosing

Management of severe or intolerable adverse effects in patients receiving everolimus for breast cancer, neuroendocrine tumors of pancreatic, GI, or lung origin, renal cell carcinoma, or TSC-associated renal angiomyolipoma, SEGA, or partial-onset seizures may require temporary dosage reduction and/or interruption of everolimus therapy.

If dosage reduction is required for patients receiving the lowest available strength of everolimus, alternate-day dosing should be used.

Drug interactions

Closely monitor for an increase in everolimus blood levels and for adverse reactions suggestive of everolimus toxicity when cannabidiol is administered concurrently witheverolimus (Zortress(R)). A dose reduction ofeverolimus (Zortress(R)) should be considered as needed when coadministration occurs.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice inhibit cytochrome CYP3A4 and P-gp activity and should therefore be avoidedwith concomitant use of everolimus.

Everolimus is a substrate of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzyme 3A4; the drug is a competitive inhibitor of CYP3A4 andCYP2D6 in vitro. Everolimus also is a substrateof the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp).

Contraindications

*Known hypersensitivity to everolimus, other rapamycin derivatives (e.g., sirolimus, temsirolimus), or any ingredient in the everolimus formulations.

Adverse reactions

Adverse effects reported in 30% or more of patients receiving everolimus for the treatment of advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, progressive neuroendocrine tumors of pancreatic, gastrointestinal, or lung origin, or advanced renal cell carcinoma, and more frequently with the drug than with placebo include stomatitis (including mouth ulceration, aphthous stomatitis, glossodynia, gingival pain, glossitis, and lip ulceration), infections (including urinary tract infections, upper and lower respiratory tract infections, skin, and gastrointestinal tract infections), rash, fatigue, diarrhea, edema, abdominal pain, nausea, fever, asthenia, cough, headache, and decreased appetite.

Adverse effects reported in 30% or more of patients receiving everolimus for the treatment of renal angiomyolipoma with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and more frequently with the drug than with placebo include stomatitis (including mouth ulceration, aphthous stomatitis, glossodynia, gingival pain, glossitis, and stomatitis).

Adverse effects reported in 30% or more of patients receiving everolimus for the treatment of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) with TSC include stomatitis (including mouth and lip ulceration, and stomatitis) and respiratory tract infections (including respiratory tract infection, upper respiratory tract infection, and viral respiratory tract infection).

Adverse effects reported in 30% or more of patients receiving everolimus for the adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures with TSC include stomatitis (including stomatitis, mouth ulceration, apththous ulcer, lip and tongue ulceration, mucosal inflammation, and gingival pain).

Adverse effects reported in 20% or more of patients receiving everolimus in combination with reduced-exposure cyclosporine for prevention of organ rejection after renal transplantation include peripheral edema, constipation, hypertension, nausea, anemia, urinary tract infection, and hyperlipidemia.

Adverse effects reported in more than 10% of patients receiving everolimus in combination with reduced-exposure tacrolimus for prevention of organ rejection after hepatic transplantation include diarrhea, headache, peripheral edema, hypertension, nausea, pyrexia, abdominal pain, leukopenia, and hypercholesterolemia.

Precautions

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ICD codes

CodeTypeDescription
Adjunct therapy for partial-onset seizure associated with tuberous sclerosis
Q85.1ICD10CMTuberous sclerosis
Estrogen receptor (Er)-positive, HEr2-negative postmenopausal advanced breast cancer
C50.11ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of central portion of breast, female
C50.111ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of central portion of right female breast
C50.112ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of central portion of left female breast
C50.119ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of central portion of unspecified female breast
C50.21ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of upper-inner quadrant of breast, female
C50.211ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of upper-inner quadrant of right female breast
C50.212ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of upper-inner quadrant of left female breast
C50.219ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of upper-inner quadrant of unspecified female breast
C50.31ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of lower-inner quadrant of breast, female
C50.311ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of lower-inner quadrant of right female breast
C50.312ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of lower-inner quadrant of left female breast
C50.319ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of lower-inner quadrant of unspecified female breast
C50.41ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of upper-outer quadrant of breast, female
C50.411ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of upper-outer quadrant of right female breast
C50.412ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of upper-outer quadrant of left female breast
C50.419ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of upper-outer quadrant of unspecified female breast
C50.51ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of lower-outer quadrant of breast, female
C50.511ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of lower-outer quadrant of right female breast
C50.512ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of lower-outer quadrant of left female breast
C50.519ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of lower-outer quadrant of unspecified female breast
C50.61ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of axillary tail of breast, female
C50.611ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of axillary tail of right female breast
C50.612ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of axillary tail of left female breast
C50.619ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of axillary tail of unspecified female breast
C50.81ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of breast, female
C50.811ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of right female breast
C50.812ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of left female breast
C50.819ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of unspecified female breast
C50.91ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of breast of unspecified site, female
C50.911ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast
C50.912ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast
C50.919ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of unspecified site of unspecified female breast
Z17.0ICD10CMEstrogen receptor positive status [Er+]
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma
C64ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of kidney, except renal pelvis
C64.1ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of right kidney, except renal pelvis
C64.2ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of left kidney, except renal pelvis
C64.9ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of unspecified kidney, except renal pelvis
Nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumor of gastrointestinal origin
C7A.01ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumors of the small intestine
C7A.010ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the duodenum
C7A.011ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the jejunum
C7A.012ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the ileum
C7A.019ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the small intestine, unspecified portion
C7A.02ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumors of the appendix, large intestine, and rectum
C7A.020ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the appendix
C7A.021ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the cecum
C7A.022ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the ascending colon
C7A.023ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the transverse colon
C7A.024ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the descending colon
C7A.025ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the sigmoid colon
C7A.026ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the rectum
C7A.029ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the large intestine, unspecified portion
C7A.092ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the stomach
C7A.094ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the foregut, unspecified
C7A.095ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the midgut, unspecified
C7A.096ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the hindgut, unspecified
Nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumor of lung origin
C7A.090ICD10CMMalignant carcinoid tumor of the bronchus and lung
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
C25.4ICD10CMMalignant neoplasm of endocrine pancreas
Prevention of kidney transplant rejection
Z94.0ICD10CMKidney transplant status
Prevention of liver transplant rejection
Z94.4ICD10CMLiver transplant status
Renal angiomyolipoma with tuberous sclerosis complex
D30.0ICD10CMBenign neoplasm of kidney
D30.00ICD10CMBenign neoplasm of unspecified kidney
D30.01ICD10CMBenign neoplasm of right kidney
D30.02ICD10CMBenign neoplasm of left kidney
Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma associated with tuberous sclerosis
D33.0ICD10CMBenign neoplasm of brain, supratentorial
D33.1ICD10CMBenign neoplasm of brain, infratentorial
D33.2ICD10CMBenign neoplasm of brain, unspecified

ICD code information from First Databank (FDB).

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data