Treatment options in renal cell carcinoma: past, present and future.
Cytokine therapies have been the standard of care in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, these agents only provide clinical benefit to a small subset of patients and are associated with significant toxicity. A better understanding of the molecular biology of RCC has identified the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor signalling pathways as rational targets for anticancer therapy. The multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors sunitinib and sorafenib have both demonstrated improved efficacy as second-line therapy in patients with RCC. Sunitinib has also been shown to be effective in the first-line setting, and has recently received European Union approval as first-line treatment for advanced and/or metastatic RCC. There is also recent evidence that temsirolimus (an inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin) and bevacizumab (a mAb targeted against VEGF) may provide benefits in the first-line treatment setting. These results confirm that inhibiting these tumour targets is a feasible approach to treatment and provides a more positive outlook for the future management of metastatic RCC.
Oudard
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S
Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Service de Cancérologie Médicale, 20 rue Leblanc, Paris Cedex 15, France. stephane.oudard@egp.aphp.fr
George
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D
Medioni
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Motzer
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D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077157:Sorafenib; D000077210:Sunitinib
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D016207:Cytokines; D007211:Indoles; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011725:Pyridines; D011758:Pyrroles; D009536:Niacinamide; D000068258:Bevacizumab; C401859:temsirolimus; D000077157:Sorafenib; D000077210:Sunitinib; D020123:Sirolimus