First-line treatment result influence second-line regimen selection in targeted therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Sequential treatments using various targeted-therapies have been recommended for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. However, regimen selection remains difficult when adapting to various clinical situations.

Patients and methods: From 2006 to 2012, 29 patients who received sequential targeted-therapy at our hospital were included for analysis of the treatment regimens and outcome.

Results: Patients who used sunitinib as first-line and axitinib as second-line treatment experienced a similar second-line treatment duration, as those used the same first-line and everolimus as the second-line regimen. The first-line sunitinib treatment duration was longer in the axitinib group.

Conclusion: Our data showed a promising sequential treatment result using sunitinib-axitinib and sunitinib-everolimus. In patients whose first-line sunitinib treatment resulted in primary resistance, second-line everolimus was found to still contribute a fair degree of disease control. Patients who responded to first-line sunitinib could also achieved fair disease control using second-line axitinib.

Keywords: Metastatic renal cell carcinoma; axitinib; everolimus; sorafenib; sunitinib.