UroToday - Updated results and analysis of prognostic factors from a phase III randomized trial.

Sunitinib malate has demonstrated statistically superior progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) compared with IFN-alfa (IFN-?±) in an international, randomized phase III trial of first-line therapy in patients (pts) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Updated efficacy and safety results from this trial, and analysis of prognostic factors for PFS, are now available and presented from an international group of investigators.

Treatment-naive pts with mRCC received oral sunitinib 50 mg/day for 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks off treatment (4/2 schedule) or subcutaneous IFN-?± 9 MU three times per week. The primary endpoint was PFS.

750 pts were randomized: 375 pts to sunitinib and 375 to IFN-?±. At the time of analysis, the median duration of treatment for sunitinib and IFN-?± was 11.1 mo vs. 4.1 mo, respectively. 59 pts (16%) on sunitinib had discontinued due to AEs vs. 86 pts (23%) on IFN-?±. ORR, as assessed by independent central review, was 39% (95% CI: 34-44) for sunitinib vs. 8% (95% CI: 6-12) for IFN-?± (P