The data from the international, multicenter Phase III clinical trial found the drug, everolimus, significantly delays cancer progression in patients whose disease had worsened on other treatments.

The study was led by Dr. Robert Motzer, an attending physician at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

"This study has given us a new and clearly useful tool for treating renal cell tumors, and everolimus is an important step forward in terms of disease management and quality of life for patients living with this disease," said Motzer.

Everolimus, a once-daily oral therapy, targets the mTOR protein, which acts as a central regulator of tumor cell division, cell metabolism and blood vessel growth. It is currently being evaluated for the treatment of several other cancers, including lymphoma and neuroendocrine tumors.

Motzer will present the findings in Chicago during the May 30-June 3 annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology.