Retrospective Study Confirms First-line Pazopanib Efficacy in Metastatic ccRCC

In a retrospective study, researchers have confirmed the efficacy of first-line pazopanib in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), findings published in the journal BJU International have shown.¹

Pazopanib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced RCC, as well as patients with soft tissue sarcoma. Because data regarding unselected patients with metastatic ccRCC treated with first-line pazopanib are limited, investigators at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston sought to explore the efficacy and safety of pazopanib in a “real-world” setting in unselect patients.

For the study, researchers analyzed records of 88 patients with metastatic ccRCC treated with first-line pazopanib between November 1, 2009 and November 1, 2012.

Results showed that of the 74 evaluable for response, 3% achieved a complete response, 36% had a partial response, 49% had stable disease, and 12% had progressive disease. Researchers found that median progression-free survival was 13.7 months (95% CI, 8.7 – 18.3), which was associated with a Karnofsky Performance Score of less than 80 (HR, 3.26; P < .001) and a serum lactate dehydrogenase level greater than 1.5x the upper limit of normal (HR, 3.25; P = .014).

Median overall survival was 29.1 months (95% CI, 20.2 – NR), and that was correlated with brain metastasis (HR, 2.55; P = .009), neutrophilia (HR, 1.179; P = .018), and anemia (HR, 3.51; P < .001).

When looking at the 53 patients who received second-line therapy with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor TKI (VEGF-TKI), mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi), or other therapy, the study demonstrated trends for longer progression-free and overall survival with VEGFR-TKI vs mTORi after first-line pazopanib.

Reference

1. Matrana MR, Bathala T, Campbell MT, et al. Outcomes of unselected patients with metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma treated with first-line pazopanib therapy followed by vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors or mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors: a single institution experience [published online ahead of print December 13, 2015]. BJU Int. doi: 10.1111/bju.13374.