Hello Dr. Schiano, I hope you are well.
I have written you before regarding my CyberKnife HCC treatment as a patient of Norah Terrault which allowed me to get within the UCSF transplant criteria and thankfully receive a life-saving liver transplant about 4 months ago now.
My question regards Zortress (everolimus) which I have just started taking (3mg daily) along with my other post transplant meds. I have been told that once the Zortress blood level becomes stable I will be stopping my 720mg of Myfortic and remain on 4mg of Tacrolimus and 5mg of Prednisone. I was told that I am taking Zortress because of its anti-cancer properties since I have a very high risk of HCC recurrence due to my pre-transplant AFP numbers. It is a PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitor, that targets hepatocarcinogenesis.
I was wondering if yourself or any of your colleagues has experience with Zortress, especially as a prophylactic for recurrence of HCC post-transplant?
I just wanted to let you know I have made an amazing recovery post transplant. I have had no post surgery complications. All blood levels are within norms and I haven't felt this good in many, many years. I couldn't have hoped for a better outcome.
I appreciate any knowledge of Zortress and its use you might have.
Be well.
Howard (Hector)