Why stop taking Sunitinib for two weeks?

Sunitinib is an oral receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that acts on vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs), platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) and c-kit signals. It is currently the standard drug for the treatment of untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A pivotal randomized phase III trial comparing sunitinib and IFN-α in patients with previously untreated mRCC showed that progression-free survival was significantly longer in the sunitinib group than in the IFN-α group.

A randomized study comparing a 37.5 mg continuous daily dose (CDD) regimen with regimen 4/2 showed no differences in drug tolerability or patient-reported symptoms but identified regimen 4/2 as superior to CDD in terms of time to tumor progression. These data support that higher doses of intermittent sunitinib are clinically superior to lower doses of continuous dosing. In clinical practice, it is often noted that side effects increase with each cycle, usually worsening between the 3rd and 4th weeks of treatment.

The original sunitinib drug has been launched in China and has entered the scope of Class B medical insurance. SpecificationsThe price of 12.5mg*28 tablets is around RMB 3,500. The original sunitinib drug has also been launched overseas. The price of 12.5mg*7 tablets is around RMB 1,500 (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). There are also generic drugs produced in other countries. The price of 12.5mg*28 tablets produced by an Indian pharmaceutical factory is around RMB 750 (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The ingredients of the generic drugs produced abroad are basically the same as those of the original drugs at home and abroad. There may be differences in the prices of different specifications of drugs.