Metabolic complications with the use of mTOR inhibitors for cancer therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

398 Background: mTOR inhibitors are approved in several malignancies including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The risk of metabolic complications with these agents is not well characterized. Methods: PubMed was searched for articles published from 2001 until 2011. Eligible studies included prospective randomized trials evaluating temsirolimus, everolimus, and ridaforolimus in patients with all solid tumor malignancies. 16 eligible phase II clinical trials and 8 randomized controlled clinical trials were included in a systematic review and meta-analysis and the number of metabolic related AEs including hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia were extracted. Incidence rates and incident rate ratios were calculated. Results: In total, 24 trials (including 4,261 patients) were included. The average incidence rate of any grade metabolic adverse events and grade 3-4 metabolic adverse events was 0.70 per patient and 0.11 (95% CI, 0.08, 0.15) per patient respectively. Analysis of the 3,317 patients across 8 RCT’s revealed that the log incidence rate ratio (IRR) of any grade metabolic adverse events with mTOR inhibitor therapy compared with control was 1.08 (95% CI, 0.84, 1.31) using a random-effects model. The risk of grade 3-4 adverse events was also increased with an IRR of 1.52 (95% CI, 1.05, 1.99). The IRR of all grade hyperglycemia was 1.08 (95% CI, 0.76, 1.40) and of grade 3-4 hyperglycemia was 1.66 (95% CI, 1.12, 2.20). The IRR of all grade hypertriglyceridemia was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.56, 1.26) and of grade 3-4 hypertriglyceridemia was 0.70 (95% CI,- 0.43, 1.83). The IRR of all grade hypercholesterolemia was 1.21 (95% CI, 0.77, 1.65) and of grade 3-4 hypercholesterolemia was 1.21 (95% CI, 0.77, 1.65). These findings suggest a statistically significant increase in the risk of hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia (all grades and grade 3 and 4), and all grade hypertriglyceridemia associated with mTOR therapy when compared with control. Conclusions: The risk of all grade and grade 3-4 metabolic adverse events are increased in patients treated with mTOR inhibitors compared with control. However, grade 3-4 metabolic adverse events remain relatively uncommon.