Sequential therapy with sorafenib and sunitinib in renal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Sunitinib and sorafenib are small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) with antitumor activity in advanced renal cell carcinoma. A retrospective study was conducted to assess the response of renal cell carcinoma to sequential treatment with these two agents.


METHODS
Tumor response was evaluated by using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria in patients failing first-line therapy with either sunitinib or sorafenib and subsequently receiving second-line therapy with the other TKI agent.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine patients received sorafenib followed by sunitinib (Group A), and 20 patients received sunitinib followed by sorafenib (Group B). TKI drugs were terminated in 6 (12%) patients in Group A and 4 (8%) in Group B because of toxicity. Median duration of stable disease for Groups A and B was 20 and 9.5 weeks, respectively. Median time from starting first TKI to disease progression after second TKI (time to progression) in Groups A and B was 78 and 37 weeks, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that Group B had a shorter time to progression than Group A (risk ratio [RR] 3.0; P=.016). Median overall survival was 102 and 45 weeks in Groups A and B, respectively (P=.061).


CONCLUSIONS
The longer duration of disease control in patients who received sorafenib followed by sunitinib warrants further investigation.
Dudek
Arkadiusz Z
AZ
Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA. dudek002@umn.edu
Zolnierek
Jakub
J
Dham
Anu
A
Lindgren
Bruce R
BR
Szczylik
Cezary
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077157:Sorafenib; D000077210:Sunitinib; D016019:Survival Analysis
D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D007211:Indoles; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D011758:Pyrroles; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib; D000077210:Sunitinib