Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Robotic Enucleation of an Intra-Pancreatic Insulinoma in the Pancreatic Head
05:42

Robotic Enucleation of an Intra-Pancreatic Insulinoma in the Pancreatic Head

Published on: January 3, 2020

Role of everolimus in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Robert Goldstein1, Tim Meyer

  • 1UCL Cancer Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.

Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy
|September 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Everolimus significantly improved progression-free survival in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. This mTOR inhibitor offers a new therapeutic option where survival rates have stagnated for years.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) have shown stagnant survival rates for over 20 years.
  • Limited therapeutic advancements, with streptozocin being the last approved agent until recently.
  • Aberrant PI3K-Akt/PKB-mTOR pathway signaling is implicated in PNET pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of everolimus in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
  • To assess the impact of everolimus on progression-free survival (PFS).

Main Methods:

  • A Phase III randomized controlled trial.
  • Patients with low- and intermediate-grade advanced PNETs were assigned to receive either everolimus (10 mg/day) or a placebo.
  • Progression-free survival and adverse events were monitored.

Main Results:

  • Median progression-free survival was significantly longer in the everolimus group (11 months) compared to the placebo group (4.6 months).
  • Drug-related adverse events were consistent with the known safety profile of everolimus.
  • Everolimus demonstrated a significant benefit in delaying tumor progression.

Conclusions:

  • Everolimus represents a significant therapeutic advancement for patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
  • Targeting the mTOR pathway with everolimus is an effective strategy for PNET treatment.

More Related Videos

An Orthotopic Resectional Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer07:17

An Orthotopic Resectional Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer

Published on: September 24, 2020

Related Concept Videos

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...