Global BulletinAll NewsFDA Approval AlertWomen in Oncology
Expert InterviewsAround the PracticeBetween the LinesFace OffFrom All AnglesMeeting of the MindsOncViewPodcastsTraining AcademyTreatment Algorithms with the Oncology Brothers
Conferences
All JournalsEditorial BoardFor AuthorsYear in Review
Frontline ForumSatellite Sessions
CME/CE
Awareness MonthInteractive ToolsNurse Practitioners/Physician's AssistantsPartnersSponsoredSponsored Media
Career CenterSubscribe
Adverse Effects
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast CancerBreast Cancer
Gastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal Cancer
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic Cancers
Head & Neck Cancer
Hematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic Oncology
InfectionInfection
Leukemia
Lung CancerLung CancerLung Cancer
Lymphoma
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Oncology
Pediatric Cancers
Radiation Oncology
Sarcoma
Screening
Skin Cancer & Melanoma
Surgery
Thyroid Cancer
Spotlight -
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Surgery
Adverse Effects
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast CancerBreast Cancer
Gastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal Cancer
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic Cancers
Head & Neck Cancer
Hematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic Oncology
InfectionInfection
Leukemia
Lung CancerLung CancerLung Cancer
Lymphoma
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Oncology
Pediatric Cancers
Radiation Oncology
Sarcoma
Screening
Skin Cancer & Melanoma
Surgery
Thyroid Cancer
    • Conferences
    • CME/CE
    • Career Center
    • Subscribe
Advertisement

Sunitinib-Related Fatigue Occurs Early in RCC Treatment

March 26, 2014
By Leah Lawrence
Article

Patients receiving treatment with sunitinib for advanced renal cell carcinoma experienced worse treatment-related fatigue during the first cycle of treatment with symptoms lessening after subsequent consecutive cycles.

Ball-and-stick model of sunitinib

Ball-and-stick model of sunitinib

Patients receiving treatment with sunitinib for advanced renal cell carcinoma experienced worse treatment-related fatigue during the first cycle of treatment with symptoms lessening after subsequent consecutive cycles, according to the results of a recent study.

“The finding that sunitinib-related fatigue occurs early can be used to enhance education and preparedness among patients who have been prescribed sunitinib for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma,” wrote David Cella, PhD, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and colleagues. “It also highlights the importance of setting upfront expectations regarding the fatigue experience so that patients do not prematurely withdraw from treatment, thereby failing to take advantage of the potential clinical benefit of sunitinib.”

Fatigue is a common problem in patients with advanced cancer assigned treatment with interferon or targeted therapies, such as those commonly used for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. Previous research has shown that fatigue is reported in as many as 40% to 70% of patients with advanced renal cell disease in clinical trials of sunitinib.

The researchers sought to analyze sunitinib-related fatigue and any effect it has on health-related quality of life. Using data from a phase III trial of sunitinib compared with interferon-alpha in patients with metastatic disease, Cella and colleagues assessed health-related quality of life using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Kidney Symptom Index 15-item (FKSI-15) questionnaire, and fatigue using its Disease Related Symptoms subscale (FKSI-DRS) and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTAE).

The researchers then used a repeated-measures model (M1) and a random intercept-slope model (M2) to characterize sunitinib-associated fatigue over time.

The M1 model showed that results of the FKSI-DRS item indicated an increase in patient-reported fatigue during the first cycle of sunitinib. However, fatigue values for the subsequent cycles were numerically better that that of the first.

“Most pairwise comparisons of consecutive CTCAE fatigue cycle means were not found to be statistically significant,” the researchers wrote.

Results from the M2 model supported this finding showing that fatigue was stable over time after the initial increase seen after the first cycle of sunitinib.

Looking at health-related quality of life, the researchers found that the relationship between most quality-of-life outcomes and CTCAE was close to linear regardless of whether the patient was treated with sunitinib or interferon-alpha. As expected, worse health-related quality-of-life scores were found with a higher mean fatigue grade, except for measures that were not linked directly to fatigue such as those related to bone pain.

When looking at the results excluding fatigue, health-related quality of life according to CTCAE was numerically superior with sunitinib compared with interferon-alpha, with a statistically significant difference in most cases.

“Findings similar to those of the current study may have been reported anecdotally by some clinicians, given their experience with sunitinib, but to the best of our knowledge the current study is the first formal analysis to confirm and quantify this observation,” the researchers wrote.

Recent Videos
Various methods of communication ensure that members from radiation oncology, pathology, and other departments are on the same page regarding treatment.
Comprehensive prehabilitation may help prepare patients for bladder-preserving surgery, helping to optimize quality of life outcomes.
Ongoing research suggests environmental exposures and the role of microbiomes may influence bladder cancer development and response to treatment.
Related Content
Advertisement

The addition of CAN-2409 to a prodrug and radiation therapy in intermediate-to-high-risk prostate cancer significantly improved cancer-specific outcomes.

CAN-2409/EBRT Improves Disease-Free Survival in Localized Prostate Cancer

Roman Fabbricatore
June 3rd 2025
Article

The addition of CAN-2409 to a prodrug and radiation therapy in intermediate-to-high-risk prostate cancer significantly improved cancer-specific outcomes.


A Sneak Peek at 2025 ASCO From the GU Perspective

A Sneak Peek at 2025 ASCO From the GU Perspective

Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS;Benjamin Garmezy, MD
May 15th 2025
Podcast

Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS, and Benjamin Garmezy, MD, highlight exciting trials in the genitourinary cancer space expected to be presented at 2025 ASCO.


Eight votes were cast against the favorability of talazoparib and enzalutamide in the first-line setting for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

ODAC Votes 8-to-0 Against First-Line Talazoparib/Enzalutamide in mCRPC

Roman Fabbricatore
May 21st 2025
Article

Eight votes were cast against the favorability of talazoparib and enzalutamide in the first-line setting for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.


Beyond Surgery: The Evolving Landscape of Adjuvant Therapy in Kidney Cancer

Beyond Surgery: The Evolving Landscape of Adjuvant Therapy in Kidney Cancer

Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS;Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS
May 1st 2025
Podcast

Oncology Decoded hosts discuss adjuvant therapy in kidney cancer, including research, treatment strategies, and management of recurrence.


Data from the POTOMAC trial evaluating durvalumab in NMIBC will be presented at a future medical meeting and shared with global regulatory authorities.

Durvalumab Combo Demonstrates DFS Improvement in High-Risk NMIBC

Roman Fabbricatore
May 9th 2025
Article

Data from the POTOMAC trial evaluating durvalumab in NMIBC will be presented at a future medical meeting and shared with global regulatory authorities.


No 90-day mortality was observed among patients who were treated with EVP followed by surgery for advanced urothelial cancer.

EVP Before Consolidative Surgery Optimizes Responses in Urothelial Cancer

Sabrina Serani
May 2nd 2025
Article

No 90-day mortality was observed among patients who were treated with EVP followed by surgery for advanced urothelial cancer.

Related Content
Advertisement

The addition of CAN-2409 to a prodrug and radiation therapy in intermediate-to-high-risk prostate cancer significantly improved cancer-specific outcomes.

CAN-2409/EBRT Improves Disease-Free Survival in Localized Prostate Cancer

Roman Fabbricatore
June 3rd 2025
Article

The addition of CAN-2409 to a prodrug and radiation therapy in intermediate-to-high-risk prostate cancer significantly improved cancer-specific outcomes.


A Sneak Peek at 2025 ASCO From the GU Perspective

A Sneak Peek at 2025 ASCO From the GU Perspective

Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS;Benjamin Garmezy, MD
May 15th 2025
Podcast

Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS, and Benjamin Garmezy, MD, highlight exciting trials in the genitourinary cancer space expected to be presented at 2025 ASCO.


Eight votes were cast against the favorability of talazoparib and enzalutamide in the first-line setting for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

ODAC Votes 8-to-0 Against First-Line Talazoparib/Enzalutamide in mCRPC

Roman Fabbricatore
May 21st 2025
Article

Eight votes were cast against the favorability of talazoparib and enzalutamide in the first-line setting for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.


Beyond Surgery: The Evolving Landscape of Adjuvant Therapy in Kidney Cancer

Beyond Surgery: The Evolving Landscape of Adjuvant Therapy in Kidney Cancer

Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS;Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS
May 1st 2025
Podcast

Oncology Decoded hosts discuss adjuvant therapy in kidney cancer, including research, treatment strategies, and management of recurrence.


Data from the POTOMAC trial evaluating durvalumab in NMIBC will be presented at a future medical meeting and shared with global regulatory authorities.

Durvalumab Combo Demonstrates DFS Improvement in High-Risk NMIBC

Roman Fabbricatore
May 9th 2025
Article

Data from the POTOMAC trial evaluating durvalumab in NMIBC will be presented at a future medical meeting and shared with global regulatory authorities.


No 90-day mortality was observed among patients who were treated with EVP followed by surgery for advanced urothelial cancer.

EVP Before Consolidative Surgery Optimizes Responses in Urothelial Cancer

Sabrina Serani
May 2nd 2025
Article

No 90-day mortality was observed among patients who were treated with EVP followed by surgery for advanced urothelial cancer.

Advertisement
About
Advertise
CureToday.com
OncLive.com
OncNursingNews.com
TargetedOnc.com
Editorial
Contact
Terms and Conditions
Privacy
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Contact Info

2 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.