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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
A Syngeneic Mouse Model of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma for Quantitative and Longitudinal Assessment of Preclinical Therapies
Published on: April 12, 2017
Sequential therapies with sorafenib and sunitinib in advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma
E Herrmann1, N Marschner, M O Grimm
1Department of Urology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer Strasse 33, 48149 Münster, Germany. herrmae@ukmuenster.de
Purpose:
To investigate whether patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma benefit from sequential therapies with the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) sorafenib and sunitinib.
Patients And Methods:
A total of 89 patients were treated in nine German centres between 2002 and 2009. The TKI sequence started as first-, second- or third-line therapy after prior chemo- or immunotherapy. When progression was diagnosed, treatment was switched to the second TKI until further progression.
Results:
Overall progression-free survival (PFS) of patients receiving sunitinib followed by sorafenib shows no statistically significant difference to patients receiving sorafenib followed by sunitinib (15.4 months vs. 12.1 months). The secondary use of sorafenib resulted in a median PFS of 3.8 months if the TKI sequence had been started as a first-line treatment and of 3.5 months if the TKI sequence had been started second-line treatment. The secondary use of sunitinib resulted in a median PFS of 3.4 and 4.0 months, respectively. OS was 28.8 months for all patients, without a statistically significant difference between the two groups.
Conclusions:
This study endorses the notion of a clinical benefit of the sequential use of sorafenib and sunitinib and supports observations from previous studies. In terms of the optimal succession of the two TKIs, the study does not allow a definite answer.
Insights
Sequential tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like sorafenib and sunitinib offer clinical benefit for metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients. The specific order of these TKIs did not significantly impact progression-free survival in this study.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is a complex malignancy.
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like sorafenib and sunitinib are standard treatments for mRCC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical benefit of sequential therapy with sorafenib and sunitinib in mRCC patients.
- To compare the efficacy of different TKI sequences (sorafenib then sunitinib vs. sunitinib then sorafenib).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 89 mRCC patients treated in German centers (2002-2009).
- Patients received either sorafenib followed by sunitinib, or sunitinib followed by sorafenib, as first-, second-, or third-line therapy.
- Treatment was switched to the second TKI upon progression of the first.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference in progression-free survival (PFS) between the two TKI sequences (15.4 months vs. 12.1 months).
- Overall survival (OS) was 28.8 months for all patients, with no significant difference between groups.
- Secondary use of either TKI showed limited PFS (3.4-4.0 months).
Conclusions:
- Sequential use of sorafenib and sunitinib provides clinical benefit in mRCC, supporting previous findings.
- The study could not determine an optimal sequence for these TKIs.
- Further research is needed to establish the best TKI succession strategy.
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