Sorafenib therapy for metastatic renal carcinoma in patients with low cardiac ejection fraction: report of two cases and literature review

Echocardiography-Assessed Changes of Left and Right Ventricular Cardiac Function May Correlate with Progression of Advanced Lung Cancer-A Generating Hypothesis Study

Advanced lung cancer causes damage to lung tissue and the alveolar−capillary barrier, leading to changes in pulmonary circulation and cardiac function. This observational study included 75 patients with inoperable lung cancer. Two echocardiographic assessments were performed: one before the initiation of systemic anticancer therapy and another after the first radiological evaluation of the efficacy of anticancer treatment. In retrospective analysis, diagnosis of early cancer progression was associated significantly (p < 0.05) with some echocardiographic changes: a decrease in EF of at least 5 percentage points (OR = 5.78), an increase in LV GLS of 3 percentage points (OR = 3.81), an increase in E/E′ ratio of at least 3.25 (OR = 3.39), as well as a decrease in RV free wall GLS of at least 4 percentage points (OR = 4.9) and an increase in FAC of at least 4.1 percentage points (OR = 4.9). Cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction was diagnosed in accordance with the definition of the International Cardio-Oncology Society and was found more frequently in patients with radiologically confirmed lung cancer disease progression (p = 0.003). In further prospective studies, the hypothesis about the possible coexistence of the cardiotoxic effect of cancer therapy and cardiac dysfunction related to the progression of inoperable lung cancer should be clarified.

A phase I open-label study evaluating the cardiovascular safety of sorafenib in patients with advanced cancer

PURPOSE

To characterize the cardiovascular profile of sorafenib, a multitargeted kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced cancer.

METHODS

Fifty-three patients with advanced cancer received oral sorafenib 400 mg bid in continuous 28-day cycles in this open-label study. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was evaluated using multigated acquisition scanning at baseline and after 2 and 4 cycles of sorafenib. QT/QTc interval on the electrocardiograph (ECG) was measured in triplicate with a Holter 12-lead ECG at baseline and after 1 cycle of sorafenib. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were obtained in duplicate at baseline and after 1 and 4 cycles of sorafenib. Plasma pharmacokinetic data were obtained for sorafenib and its 3 main metabolites after 1 and 4 cycles of sorafenib.

RESULTS

LVEF (SD) mean change from baseline was -0.8 (±8.6) LVEF(%) after 2 cycles (n = 31) and -1.2 (±7.8) LVEF(%) after 4 cycles of sorafenib (n = 24). The QT/QTc mean changes from baseline observed at maximum sorafenib concentrations (t(max)) after 1 cycle (n = 31) were small (QTcB: 4.2 ms; QTcF: 9.0 ms). Mean changes observed after 1 cycle in BP (n = 31) and HR (n = 30) at maximum sorafenib concentrations (t(max)) were moderate (up to 11.7 mm Hg and -6.6 bpm, respectively). No correlation was found between the AUC and C(max) of sorafenib and its main metabolites and any cardiovascular parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

The effects of sorafenib on changes in QT/QTc interval on the ECG, LVEF, BP, and HR were modest and unlikely to be of clinical significance in the setting of advanced cancer treatment.

Novelties of treatment in advanced renal-cell cancer

Therapeutic options in advanced renal-cell cancer have expanded through better understanding of molecular patho­logy and development of novel targeted therapeutics. Vascular endothelial growth factor, the key ligand of angioge­nesis, has a major role in the progression of vascularized kidney tumors and this is the target molecule of modern medications. The three types of the mechanism of action of current therapies are: monoclonal antibodies blocking directly vascular endothelial growth factor ligand (bevacizumab), tyrosine-kinase inhibitors blocking vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (sorafenib, sunitinib, pazopanib) and inhibitors of the intracellular mTOR-kinase (temsirolimus, everolimus). Based on randomized studies, sunitinib, pazopanib or interferon-α-bevacizumab combination should be the first-line therapy in patients with good/moderate prognosis, while temsirolimus is recommended in those with poor prognosis. Following an ineffective cytokine therapy sorafenib or pazopanib are the se­cond-line treatment. In case of tyrosine-kinase inhibitor inefficacy, current evidence favors everolimus. Patient outcome can further be improved by the involvement of more modern and effective target products. Orv. Hetil., 2011, 152, 655–662.

Clinical results and pharmacokinetics of sorafenib in chronic hemodialysis patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma in a single center

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the safety and feasibility of sorafenib in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis by examining the influence of pharmacokinetic parameters to their benefit and also the occurrence of drug-related adverse events of sorafenib.

METHODS

Ten patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma undergoing hemodialysis received sorafenib. Initial dose was 200 mg once daily, and the dose was increased up to the maintenance dose of 200 mg twice daily. The pharmacokinetic study was performed after a steady state was reached with 200 mg twice daily in six patients.

RESULTS

Complete response occurred in one patient, partial response in three, stable disease in four and progressive disease in two. Median progression-free survival was 6.3 months. Serious adverse events were found in nine patients, including a Grade 5 subarachnoid hemorrhage and a Grade 4 cerebellar hemorrhage. In the pharmacokinetic study, the geometric mean of maximum concentration and area under the curve from 0 to 10 h of plasma concentration were similar on the day of hemodialysis and the day off hemodialysis. These data were lower than those from Japanese people with healthy kidneys and normal kidney function. There was no association between objective response or the occurrence of serious adverse events and pharmacokinetic parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with sorafenib of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma undergoing hemodialysis appears to be feasible, but we express some concern about the higher incidence of serious adverse events even with the reduced dose. However, clinical efficacy was not compromised.