Is Sutent considered a chemotherapy drug?
Sutent is used to treat certain types of cancer, but it is considered a targeted treatment, rather than a traditional chemotherapy drug. Sutent (sunitinib) works by inhibiting receptors that exist on the surface of some cells called receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). These receptors help cells to communicate with each other and control several different biological functions, such as cell growth, motility, differentiation, and metabolism. Research has shown that activation of some of these receptors is associated with tumor growth, angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels from existing blood vessels), and metastatic progression of cancer. Sunitinib inhibits the activity of several different kinases to inhibit tumor growth and spread.
Traditional chemotherapy drugs work by interfering with cell division (mitosis) and affect a cell's DNA or RNA.
Sutent belongs to the class of medicines known as multikinase inhibitors. It may also be called a VEGF/VEGFR inhibitor.
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Does Sutent shrink tumors?
Five times as many people with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) saw their tumors shrink with Sutent compared with those who were taking interferon α (IFNα). Studies also reported that, on average, people treated with Sutent lived more than twice the number of months without progression compared to those taking IFNα. Overall, clinical trials have proven that Sutent is more effective than IFNα, but some people may not tolerate it well, and it has a black box warning for severe liver toxicity. Sutent is not a cure, and it may not be effective for everybody. Continue reading
What is the success rate of Keytruda?
In general, PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors like Keytruda have been shown to significantly prolong overall survival (OS) in some patients with various cancer types, but Keytruda does not always work for everyone. Continue reading
How long does it take for Keytruda to work?
The time it takes for Keytruda to work can vary based on the type and stage of cancer. Typically, a response to treatment becomes apparent within 2-4 months of starting Keytruda. This timeframe is referred to as "time to response," which measures when a patient's cancer begins to show signs of responding to the treatment. You can find the specific "time to response" data from clinical trials in the table below. Continue reading
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Drug information
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