Sunitinib versus everolimus trial highlights non-clear cell RCC patient response heterogeneity

In continuation of my update on Sunitinib

Sunitinib offers significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) than everolimus for patients with metastatic non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), phase II trial results indicate, but treatment effect appears to depend upon key patient characteristics.

“Based on the present study and previous clinical studies, decisions on therapeutic choice between sunitinib and everolimus for patients with metastatic non-clear cell [RCC] should be based on prognostic risk criteria, histological subtype, and the known, expected side-effects”, say Andrew Armstrong, from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, USA, and co-workers.

“Future clinical trials in these patients should also consider this heterogeneity of outcome when assessing novel agents”, they recommend in The Lancet Oncology. PFS was 8.3 months for the 51 patients randomly assigned to receive open-label, 6-week cycles of treatment with the VEGF receptor inhibitor sunitinib 50 mg/day compared with 5.6 months for the 57 patients given the mTOR inhibitor everolimus 10 mg/day, giving a significant hazard ratio (HR) of 1.41.

Sunitinib versus everolimus trial highlights non-clear cell RCC patient response heterogeneity: Sunitinib offers significantly longer progression-free survival than everolimus for patients with metastatic non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma, phase II trial results indicate, but treatment effect appears to depend upon key patient characteristics.