title: Sunitinib dosing schedule 2/1 improves tolerability, efficacy, and health-related quality of life in Chinese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and tolerability of sunitinib dosing schedule of 2 weeks on and 1 week off (schedule 2/1) vs. the traditional schedule of 4 weeks on and 2 week off (schedule 4/2) and its influence on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Chinese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 108 patients with mRCC who were treated with sunitinib regimens (50mg daily) between January 2009 and July 2013 was undertaken. Overall, 3 groups of patients were studied according to the dosing schedule they received: schedule 4/2 (n = 50), transitional schedule 2/1 (T2/1; patients switched from schedule 4/2 to 2/1; n = 26), and initial schedule 2/1 (I2/1; n = 32). The tumor response, progression-free survival (PFS) time, adverse events, and HRQoL were assessed and compared among the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidences of diarrhea, fatigue, hand-foot syndrome, and neutropenia induced by the treatment of sunitinib were all significantly less common with schedule I2/1 and T2/1 than with schedule 4/2 (P<0.05). Although there was no statistically significant difference in the tumor response among the 3 groups, the median PFS time was significantly longer with schedule I2/1 than with schedules T2/1 and 4/2 (11.2 vs. 9.4 and 9.5mo, respectively, P = 0.030), and HRQoL (as determined by 19-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Kidney Symptom Index scores) was better.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with sunitinib 50mg daily using a 2/1 dosing schedule can provide better tolerability and a longer PFS with better HRQoL in Chinese patients with mRCC than the traditional schedule 4/2.
authors: Department of Urinary Surgery of Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Xiuwu
authors: X
authors: Pan
authors: Department of Urinary Surgery of Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China; Department of Urinary Surgery of Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, China.
authors: Hai
authors: H
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Urinary Surgery of Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Urinary Surgery of Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Bing
authors: B
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Urinary Surgery of Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: xingangcui@126.com.
authors: Xingang
authors: X
authors: Cui
authors: Department of Urinary Surgery of Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: gansishun20101111@163.com.
authors: Sishun
authors: S
authors: Gan
authors: Department of Urinary Surgery of Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Jianqing
authors: J
authors: Ye
authors: Urology Research Center of the Chinese People׳s Liberation Army, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Danfeng
authors: D
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Urinary Surgery of Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Lu
authors: L
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Urinary Surgery of Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Qiwei
authors: Q
authors: Zhou
authors: Department of Urinary Surgery of Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Department of Urinary Surgery of Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D000077210:Sunitinib; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D011758:Pyrroles; D000077210:Sunitinib
keywords: Adverse events; Dosing schedules; Metastatic renal cell carcinoma; Quality-of-life; Sunitinib; Tumor response