Older renal cancer patients appear to benefit from sorafenib

Older and younger patients with renal cancer derive similar benefit from sorafenib (Nexavar) therapy and tolerate the drug equally well, according to a study from the United Kingdom.

Researchers from Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the University of Cambridge performed a retrospective subset analysis on data from a randomized phase III trial that tested sorafenib versus placebo. The TARGET (Treatment Approach in Renal Cancer Global Evaluation Trial) enrolled 115 patients with renal cancer who were 70 years or older and 787 who were 69 years or younger. Dr. Eisen and colleagues compared the two patient groups with respect to clinical benefit, side effects reported, and self-reported time to health status deterioration.

Data for all three measures were similar for the older and younger patient groups. Median progression-free survival was 23.9 weeks for sorafenib-treated younger patients and 26.3 weeks for older patients. The percentage of sorafenib-treated older patients who had a complete response, partial response, or stable disease was 84.3% compared with 83.5% for younger patients.

There were no unexpected adverse events, and those that occurred were manageable, regardless of age. Sorafenib treatment also delayed the time to self-reported health deterioration and improved quality of life for both age groups.

“In this retrospective subgroup analysis of TARGET data, sorafenib treatment appeared to improve outcomes among patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, regardless of age,“ the authors wrote. “Additionally, side effects were expected, mild, and medically manageable.”

 The research was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2008; 100:1454-63).