everolimus

A drug used with exemestane to treat some postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer that is hormone receptor positive and HER2 negative. It is also used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (a type of kidney cancer) and certain types of pancreatic, lung, and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. It is used under the brand name Afinitor to treat these cancers and to treat renal angiomyolipoma (a type of benign kidney tumor) and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA, a type of benign brain tumor) in patients who have tuberous sclerosis. Everolimus is also used under the brand name Afinitor Disperz to treat SEGA and certain types of seizures in patients who have tuberous sclerosis. It is also used under the brand name Zortress to keep the body from rejecting a kidney or liver transplant. Everolimus is also being studied in the treatment of other conditions and types of cancer. It blocks a protein involved in cell division, which may help keep abnormal cells, including cancer cells, from growing. It may also prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. Everolimus also lowers the body’s immune response. It is a type of kinase inhibitor, a type of angiogenesis inhibitor, and a type of immunosuppressant. Also called RAD001.