What Is Torisel?

Hi, my husband has advanced RCC and just started Torisel.  He is on his fourth infusion.  It's a chemotherapy targeted drug that inhibits the growth of metastatic kidney cancer.  There's not much info out there beyond the clinical trials - when I went to the official site I couldn't understand all the jargon.  Out of the three standard treatments for RCC (besides IL-2) Torisel is the most promising treatment, according to our oncologist.  The chances for allergic reaction are high, but they can usually get around it with a cocktail of premeds.  At the moment we use a combo of demerol, pepcid, hydrocortisone, and benedryl and infuse the Torisel over an hour instead of the standard half hour.  We are waiting to see a response, but the doctor said it would take at least 6 infusions.  As far as other side effects there is always the nausea, vomiting, and fatigue  - Zofran is a pretty good antiemetic to combat these symptoms. 

 I hope I was helpful.

On 10/30/2007 dmswish wrote:

Hi, my husband has advanced RCC and just started Torisel.  He is on his fourth infusion.  It's a chemotherapy targeted drug that inhibits the growth of metastatic kidney cancer.  There's not much info out there beyond the clinical trials - when I went to the official site I couldn't understand all the jargon.  Out of the three standard treatments for RCC (besides IL-2) Torisel is the most promising treatment, according to our oncologist.  The chances for allergic reaction are high, but they can usually get around it with a cocktail of premeds.  At the moment we use a combo of demerol, pepcid, hydrocortisone, and benedryl and infuse the Torisel over an hour instead of the standard half hour.  We are waiting to see a response, but the doctor said it would take at least 6 infusions.  As far as other side effects there is always the nausea, vomiting, and fatigue  - Zofran is a pretty good antiemetic to combat these symptoms. 

 I hope I was helpful.

 

I'm on my 9th treatment of torisel and am always looking for others to share info. with. I have had various side effects including a rash, elavated sugar, I had to start insulin, swelling in my ankles, and this week my lips swelled up for a day. All these side effecets have been manageable. I have had one scan which showed stable tumors with one lung tumor shrinking. I'm going to have another scan soon and a possible break over the holidays from treatment. I don't know if this is standard, but the doctor seems to think my body needs a rest. Any info. that anyone has would be useful. The drug is so new I don't think they know how to procede over the long term. People on torisel please keep in touch.

Richard

Hi, my Mom has had three treatments of Torisel for metastatic renal cell cancer (Stage IV).  She has tolerated this well, but for the last couple of days her lips have been very swollen.  She is the first patient to have this treatment locally so I am trying to find out if this is a symptom that other patients have experienced.  If anyone out there has experienced this, what did you do (if anything) for this symptom besides benadryl?  And, with this symptom, did this require a change in dosage of the Torisel?

Any information would be so appreciated.  Thanks.