Sunitinib is a first-generation targeted therapy drug

Sunitinib (Sunitinib) is a first-generation targeted therapy drug that is a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). It mainly exerts anti-cancer effects by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and tumor cell proliferation. Its targets include VEGFR (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor), PDGFR (blood Small plate-derived growth factor receptor), KIT, FLT3, RET and other signaling pathways. Due to its broad coverage of targets, sunitinib was initially considered a groundbreaking drug in cancer treatment.

Sunitinib was approved by the USFDA in 2006 and was initially used to treat advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RC C) and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), and was later used for other indications such as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET). As the first generation TKI, it laid the foundation for the clinical practice of targeted therapy and has also been included in multinational cancer treatment guidelines. Although new generations of targeted drugs are emerging, sunitinib still occupies an important position in the treatment of various tumors, especially in patients who are intolerant to new drugs or have special mutations.

Compared with the second- and third-generation targeted drugs developed subsequently, sunitinib is relatively weak in terms of selectivity and side effect control. For example, its common side effects include hypertension, fatigue, hand-foot syndrome, oral mucositis, etc., which require close monitoring and dose adjustment during medication. Some newer generation TKIs have been optimized in terms of target specificity and tolerability, and are suitable for patients who have failed or are intolerant to sunitinib treatment.

In general, sunitinib, as the first-generation targeted therapy drug, has a foundational role in the treatment of kidney cancer and GIST. Although a variety of newer targeted drugs have entered clinical practice, sunitinib has still become one of the first or alternative treatment options for many patients due to its broad target coverage, mature treatment experience and relatively affordable drug prices. For cancer patients at different stages, doctors will choose the most appropriate targeted drugs based on their mutation type, drug resistance and overall physical condition.

Reference materials:https://www.sutent.com/