[Sorafenib(Nexavar)]

Abstract

Sorafenib(Nexavar)is a multikinase inhibitor, with disruptive activity at intracellular C-RAF, B-RAF and mutant BRAF receptors, and extracellular C-KIT, FLT-3, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3 and PDGFRb receptors. In the phase III study, as compared with placebo, treatment with sorafenib significantly prolonged progression free survival(PFS)in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma in whom previous therapy has failed. Diarrhea, rash, fatigue, hand-foot skin reactions, and hypertension were the most common adverse events associated with sorafenib. As sorafenib was associated with similar rates of clinically manageable side effects in elderly patients as compared to younger patients, response rates to sorafenib in elderly patients were comparable to those of younger patients. Sorafenib was approved multinationally for the treatment of advanced and/or metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Sorafenib and sunitinib are reference standards of care for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma and are recommended by current clinical guidelines. For the future, research of biomarker, adverse drug reaction, and combined regimens are needed to maximize the effects of molecular-targeted drugs.