Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has emerged as an important target for cancer therapy. Rapamycin has a distinct, well-documented
toxicity profile and most of the toxicity data has been reported in patients with organ transplantation. Newer mTOR inhibitors
have slightly different pharmacokinetic properties, yet they present toxicity profiles similar to rapamycin. Most of these
toxicities are mild to moderate in severity and can be managed clinically by dose modification and supportive measures. Mucositis
and pneumonitis are the most commonly reported toxicities, but they rarely lead to treatment discontinuation. Pathogenesis
of pneumonitis is uncertain, but various hypotheses have been suggested, including cell-mediated immune response to the drug.
Keywords mTOR inhibitors - Toxicity - Pulmonary toxicity - Hyperlipidemia - Mucositis - Newer mTOR inhibitors - Rapamycin