Treatment for renal cancer: are we beyond the cytokine era?

Abstract

Cytokines have been the mainstay of treatment for metastatic renal cancer for the past 20 years. Response rates of patients treated with these agents are low, and toxicity is high, but there is evidence from large multicenter randomized trials that indicate that there are survival benefits with interferon-based immunotherapy. A large number of new small molecule inhibitors are emerging that have caused considerable interest in the oncology community. The evidence for benefit from these compounds is based on small studies, using progression-free survival as an end-point. New compounds may provide an improvement in survival for patients with metastatic renal cancer; however, any trial of these agents should be tested against established, standard cytokine therapy.

• Authors: Sara Ramsey, Michael Aitchison
• Journal: Nature clinical practice. Urology (Nat Clin Pract Urol) Vol. 3 Issue 9 Pg. 478-84 (Sep 2006) ISSN: 1743-4270 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16964189 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Protein-Tyrosine Kinases

Topics

• Carcinoma, Renal Cell (drug therapy, secondary)
• Cytokines (therapeutic use)
• Enzyme Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Kidney Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Protein-Tyrosine Kinases (antagonists & inhibitors)