Efficacy and safety of temsirolimus in renal cell carcinoma

Temsirolimus is a novel intravenous targeted therapy that inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin kinase. This kinase is a part of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase-B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, which plays a key role in cell proliferation, metabolism and angiogenesis. Temsirolimus has shown activity in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and mantel cell lymphoma and is approved as first line treatment in advanced RCC with poor prognostic factors. This review focuses on the clinical use of temsirolimus in RCC, its safety and possible mechanisms of resistance. Keywords: renal cell carcinoma; mTOR inhibitors; efficacy; safety. Received: May 18, 2014; Accepted: July 28, 2014; Published: April 9, 2015 Corresponding Author: Michael Vickers MD, MPH, FRCPC, Medical Oncologist, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Center, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1H 8L6. E-mail: mvickers@toh.on.ca .