Last reviewed · How we verify
Torisel (temsirolimus)
Torisel works by blocking the mTOR protein, which is involved in cell growth and division.
At a glance
| Generic name | temsirolimus |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Pfizer |
| Drug class | Kinase Inhibitor |
| Target | Serine/threonine-protein kinase mTOR |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
| First approval | 2007 |
Mechanism of action
Think of mTOR like a master switch that helps cells grow and multiply. When mTOR is blocked, it's like flipping a switch that says 'stop growing' to cancer cells. This can help slow or stop the growth of certain types of cancer.
Approved indications
- Mantle cell lymphoma
- Renal cell carcinoma
Common side effects
- Disease progression
- Pneumonitis
- Stomatitis
- Mucosal inflammation
- Hypertriglyceridaemia
- Neoplasm progression
- Pleural effusion
- Dehydration
- Interstitial lung disease
- Thrombocytopenia
- Hyperglycaemia
- Extravasation
Drug interactions
- amobarbital
- aprobarbital
- barbital
- butalbital
- ethotoin
- fosphenytoin
- hexobarbital
- mephenytoin
- metharbital
- methylphenobarbital
- pentobarbital
- primidone
Key clinical trials
- Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Temsirolimus in Treating Patients With Intermediate Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma (PHASE3)
- Sapanisertib in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Bladder Cancer With TSC1 and/or TSC2 Mutations (PHASE2)
- Risk-Based Therapy in Treating Younger Patients With Newly Diagnosed Liver Cancer (PHASE3)
- Testing Lutetium Lu 177 Dotatate in Patients With Somatostatin Receptor Positive Advanced Bronchial Neuroendocrine Tumors (PHASE2)
- Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Donor Stem Cell Transplant in Treating Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (PHASE2)
- Ixabepilone and Temsirolimus in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors That Are Metastatic or Cannot Be Removed by Surgery (PHASE1)
- Comparing Retreatment of 177Lu-DOTATATE PRRT Versus the Usual Treatment in Patients With Metastatic Unresectable Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors, NET RETREAT Trial (PHASE2)
- Immunotherapy in Combination With Prednisone and Sirolimus for Kidney Transplant Recipients With Unresectable or Metastatic Skin Cancer (PHASE1,PHASE2)
Patents
| Patent | Expiry | Type |
|---|---|---|
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Mechanism, indications, dosing, boxed warnings, drug interactions |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
| FDA Orange Book | Patents + exclusivity |