Can Sunitinib Shrink Tumors?

Sunitinib blocks an enzyme called tyrosine kinase, preventing tumors from making their own blood vessels, which are needed to carry oxygen and other nutrients to help them survive and grow. Sunitinib can slow the growth of cancer and may prevent the spread of cancer cells. Using data from a phase III trial, sunitinib reduced tumor growth rates in treatment-naïve patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) compared with interferon therapy with cytokines, and this rate correlated with overall survival (OS).

Sunitinib is also being combined with the VEGF inhibitor bevacizumab in a phase I study to treat patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, this combination is also intolerable, with patients experiencing high levels of hypertension and vascular and hematological toxicity at the maximum tolerated doses of both drugs. The potential neoadjuvant use of sunitinib has also been studied, with several case series reporting tumor responses and reductions in primary tumor size, allowing surgical resection. Until further studies determine the most appropriate use of sunitinib and other targeted therapies, routine preoperative use of sunitinib and other targeted therapies is not currently recommended in patients with other resectable disease.

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, and the prices of different specifications of drugs may be different.