Risk of Fatigue and Hepatic and Metabolic Toxicities in Patients with Solid Tumors Treated with Everolimus: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of fatigue, hepatic and metabolic toxicities associated with everolimus intake in patients with solid tumors. METHODS: Eligible studies included randomized trials of patients with solid tumors on everolimus describing events of fatigue, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT). RESULTS: After the exclusion of ineligible studies, a total of ten clinical trials were considered eligible for the meta-analysis. The relative risks of all-grade fatigue, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and elevated ALT were 1.31 (p < 0.002), 3.06 (p < 0.0001), 2.54 (p = 0.0001) and 2.96 (p < 0.003), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis demonstrates that everolimus is associated with a significantly increased risk of all-grade fatigue, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and elevated ALT.