Elsevier

Seminars in Oncology

Volume 41, Supplement 2, February 2014, Pages S1-S16
Seminars in Oncology

Management of Sorafenib-Related Adverse Events: A Clinician’s Perspective

https://doi.org/10.1053/j.seminoncol.2014.01.001Get rights and content
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Sorafenib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). It is being evaluated in phase II and III clinical trials, which include treatment as a single agent (locally advanced/metastatic radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer [DTC]), as part of multimodality care (HCC), and in combination with chemotherapeutic agents (metastatic breast cancer). Sorafenib-related adverse events (AEs) that commonly occur across these tumor types include hand–foot skin reaction (HSFR), rash, upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) distress (ie, diarrhea), fatigue, and hypertension. These commonly range from grade 1 to 3, per the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), and often occur early in treatment. The goal for the management of these AEs is to prevent, treat, and/or minimize their effects, thereby enabling patients to remain on treatment and improve their quality of life. Proactive management, along with ongoing patient education (before and during sorafenib treatment), can help to effectively manage symptoms, often without the need for sorafenib dose modification or drug holidays. Effective management techniques for common sorafenib-related AEs, as well other important disease sequelae not directly related to treatment, are presented. Recommendations and observations are based on physician/author experience and recommendations from published literature.

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This supplement was funded by Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Bayer Healthcare. Medical writing services and editorial support were provided by Blue Momentum, a division of KnowledgePoint360 Group.

Conflicts of interest: Marcia S. Brose: honoraria and research funding from Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Bayer Healthcare. Catherine T. Frenette: Speaker’s bureau for Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. Stephen M. Keefe: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported. Stacey M. Stein: Honoraria from Onyx Pharmaceuticals and Bayer Healthcare.