Efficacy and safety of sunitinib in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the efficacy and side effects of the molecular targeted drug sunitinib in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma(mRCC). Methods Fifteen patients with histopathological confirmed mRCC,including 10 males and 5 females,were enrolled in the study.The median age was 56(range from 37 to 73 years).Fourteen cases of clear-cell RCC and 1 papillary RCC were diagnosed.Thirteen patients had prior nephrectomy,and 6 patients were treated with cytokines previously.All of the patients were given sunitinib at a dosage of either 50 mg daily(4 weeks on/2 weeks off)or 37.5 mg daily continuously.Objective response rate(ORR),progressive-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)were evaluated,and adverse events were also observed. Results The median follow-up was 13 months(2-24 months).According to RECIST,partial response could be evaluated in 8 patients and stable was found in another 5 patients.Only 2 patients were confirmed disease progression.The ORR was 53% with the disease control rate of 87%,However,the median PFS and OS were not yet available due to the short-term follow-up.During the treatment,the most common adverse events experienced by patients were hand-foot syndrome 11/15(73%),changes in hair color 10/15(67%),mucositis 9/15(60%),alopecie 9/15(60%),diarrhea 8/15(53%)and neutropenia 8/15 (53%). All of adverse events were manageable and reversible. Conclusions Sunitinib as a single agent in the treatment for Chinese mRCC patient is efficient and the side effects are reversible. Further long-term follow-up and expanded samples should be expected to confirm the efficacy and safety of sunitinib. Key words: Carcinoma, renal cell; Neoplasm metastasis; Sunitinih; Targeted therapy