Efficacy of sorafenib correlates with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) risk classification and bone metastasis in Chinese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Several prognostic models have been developed to assess the efficacy and safety of sorafenib for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), but few studies have validated its use in Chinese patients. The objective of this single center, single arm retrospective study was to examine the efficacy and safety of sorafenib and its related prognostic clinico-pathologic factors in Chinese mRCC patients.

METHODS: One hundred thirty four mRCC patients were enrolled. All patients received 400 mg of sorafenib orally twice daily. The dose was subsequently adjusted in the event of treatment-induced toxicity. Tumor response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AEs) were determined.

RESULTS: The median PFS and OS were 10 months (1-36 months) and 22 months (2-37 months), respectively. Complete, partial, and stable disease were observed in two (1.49%), 24 (17.91%), and 99 (73.88%) patients, respectively. Hand/foot skin reactions, diarrhea and fatigue were the most commonly observed AEs following sorafenib treatment. Among the AEs, only 13 grades 3 and 4 were observed. Multivariate analysis revealed that independent predictive factors for PFS included Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) risk status, and bone metastasis (all p < 0.05). Factors associated with OS included MSKCC risk values, bone metastasis and sorafenib-induced hypertension (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The introduction of sorafenib therapy for mRCC in Chinese patients may lead to a favorable disease control with acceptable tolerability. In addition, the parameters predicting favorable outcomes, including ECOG status, MSKCC risk status and bone metastasis, may have prognostic value in clinical practice.