Everolimus, also known as RAD001, is a potent and orally bio-available inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a key component of active PI3K/Akt pathway in human cancers. It binds to intracellular receptor FKBP12 in the mTOR pathway with high affinity forming an everolimus-FKBP12 complex. The complex further binds to mTOR resulting in reducing the activity of the downstream effectors S6 ribsomal protein kinase (S6K1) and translational repressor protein eukaryotic elongation factor 4E-binding protein (4EBP). Besides its immunosuppressive activity for the prevention of organ transplant rejection, everolimus exhibits antineoplastic activity and is currently used to treat renal cell cancer and other tumors.
Reference
G Anandappa, AE Hollingdale, and TG Eisen. Everolimus – a new approach in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Cancer Management and Research 2010:2 61-70
Laura Elibenschutz, Delia Colombo, and Caterina Catricala. Everolimus for compassionate use in multiple basal cell carcinomas. Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine 2013
Raffaele Pezzani, Beatrice Rubin, Marco Redaelli, Claudia Radu, Susi Barollo, Maria Verena Cicala, Monica Salva, Caterina Mian, Carla Mucignat-Caretta, Paolo Simioni, Maurizio Iacobone and Franco Mantero. The antiproliferative effects of ouabain and everolimus on adrenocortical tumor cells. Endocrine journal, 2013