Which one is better, axitinib/axitinib or sunitinib? Analyze efficacy comparison

Axitinib and sunitinib are both targeted drugs commonly used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). They have certain differences in treatment effects, usage methods and side effects. Although both can effectively inhibit tumor growth and delay disease progression, their differences in efficacy and indications often make patients confused when choosing.

From a pharmacological mechanism, axitinib is a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor that mainly blocks the formation of tumor blood vessels by inhibiting the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), thereby inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis. Sunitinib is also a multi-target kinase inhibitor. In addition to VEGFR, it can also inhibit some other receptors related to tumor growth, such as PDGFR and c-KIT.

In terms of clinical efficacy, axitinib generally shows strong efficacy, especially in the second-line treatment of renal cell carcinoma. According to multiple clinical trials, axitinib can effectively prolong progression-free survival (PFS), and compared with sunitinib, the patient's objective response rate (ORR) is also slightly higher. Sunitinib is used as first-line treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who have not received other treatments. It can inhibit tumor angiogenesis and reduce the oxygen and nutrient supply to tumors, thereby limiting tumor growth. Studies have shown that sunitinib is also very effective for patients who are first treated, but due to its obvious side effects, some patients may feel uncomfortable during use.

The side effects of the two are also different. Common adverse reactions of sunitinib include fatigue, high blood pressure, skin reactions and gastrointestinal discomfort. Although axitinib can also cause side effects such as fatigue and high blood pressure, the side effects of axitinib are generally more tolerable in comparison.

Reference materials:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axitinib