Sunitinib (Sutent): a novel agent for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To provide a review of the clinical data supporting the use of sunitinib (Sutent), a multitargeted, small molecule, tyrosine kinase inhibitor, with focus on its approved indication for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma in patients with metastatic disease requiring drug therapy.


METHODS
: A MEDLINE search of the medical literature was conducted using the terms 'sunitinib' and 'SU11248'. References from the articles were reviewed and relevant sources were included.


METHODS
The introduction of dual tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors is a novel approach to treating advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) by preventing angiogenesis and tumor growth. Based on its ability to inhibit several targets involved in angiogenesis and endothelial cell proliferation, sunitinib offers patients with mRCC an alternative for treatment. A recent Phase III study evaluating sunitinib as first-line therapy showed a significant difference when compared to interferonalfa (IFN-alpha) for a progression-free survival of 11 months in the sunitinib arm and 5 months in the IFN-alpha arm (hazard ratio 0.42; 95% CI 0.32-0.54; P50.001). Two Phase II trials determined sunitinib was effective as second-line therapy in mRCC patients who failed previous cytokine treatment. Partial response rates were 40% (95% CI 28%-53%) and 34% (95% CI 25%-44%). Multiple ongoing trials are currently underway to evaluate sunitinib for first-line therapy in mRCC.
Chouhan
Jyoti D
JD
University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy, TX, USA.
Zamarripa
Daniel E
DE
Lai
Phillip H
PH
Oramasionwu
Christine U
CU
Grabinski
Jodi L
JL
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077210:Sunitinib
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D011758:Pyrroles; D000077210:Sunitinib