Efficacy of sorafenib in advanced renal cell carcinoma independent of prior treatment, histology or prognostic group

Abstract

AIM: To assess the response rate and safety of sorafenib in different subpopulations of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). METHODS: Single-arm open access trial. Key eligibility: advanced RCC with either clear-cell or non-clear-cell histopathology; progression on prior systemic chemotherapy or treatment naïve. Sorafenib was commenced at 400 mg twice daily continuously. RESULTS: A total 47 participants with metastatic RCC were treated with sorafenib. Overall, 1 participant experienced complete response, 6 (13%) had documented partial response (PR) and 29 (62%) had stable disease (SD) as the best response. Eight (17%) had non-clear-cell histopathology and five (10%) had sarcomatoid features. In the non-clear-cell histopathology cohort, five participants (62.5%) had SD. Twenty-three (49%) participants were treatment naïve; of these, 1/23 showed CR, 5/23 experienced PR and 13/23 had SD (clinical benefit: 83%). Overall, 14 (30%) and 22 (47%) participants had high-risk status according to MSKCC (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center) and Heng prognostic scores, respectively. In the MSKCC poor prognostic group (14 participants), one participant had CR, two participants showed PR and eight participants had SD (clinical benefit: 79%). In Heng poor prognostic group (22 participants), 1 participant experienced CR, 2 participants showed PR and 13 had SD (clinical benefit: 73%). Hand-foot syndrome (53%), rash (47%), fatigue (42%), nausea (40%), anorexia (34%) and diarrhea (32%) were the most common adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the efficacy and tolerability of sorafenib in a different spectrum of advanced RCC patients including non-clear-cell histology, poor prognostic status and as first-line treatment.