[Management of adverse events associated with molecular targeted agents]

In Japan, sorafenib and sunitinib, potential molecular targeted agents for advanced renal cell carcinoma, were approved in 2008. Currently, a total of four agents, including everolimus and temsirolimus in addition to these two agents, have been introduced into clinical practice. It would be comparatively easy to determine the indication of these molecular targeted agents because of several clinical guidelines developed based on the outcomes of reliable randomized clinical trials ; however, any adverse events associated with the use of these agents, need to be managed carefully according to each case. Furthermore, it seems difficult to properly manage adverse events encountered during treatment using these agents due to the following reasons : there are several adverse events which have not been experienced by urologists before, and there are marked differences in the incidence as well as severity of adverse events associated with these agents between the Western and Japanese populations. It is particularly important to try to achieve a maximal therapeutic benefit from treatment with molecular targeted agents through optimal management for adverse events associated with these agents. In this symposium, accordingly, five experts, well informed of the use of these agents, provided practical information on the management of adverse events associated with each agent.