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. Cancer 2009. © 2008 American Cancer Society.