Two drugs, Temsirolimus and Sutent, help kidney cancer patients live longer, according to two international studies. People who do not respond to initial therapy, benefited with Sutent, which is more effective in slowing down the cancer’s return when compared to standard care, say Pfizer researchers. Temsirolimus, say Wyeth researchers, prolonged the lives of patients with severe kidney cancer. Wyeth researchers also said Temsirolimus has fewer side effects than chemotherapy.

Temsirolimus is given intravenously, Stutent is a pill. Researchers presented results of their studies at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, Atlanta, USA.

For the last twenty years treatment for kidney cancer has mainly consisted of chemotherapy. These new drugs significantly prolong patients’ lives and response rates.

Chemotherapy often does not work as well with kidney cancer patients. Tumors that have not been removed often do not respond to chemotherapy. These new drugs attack the growth proteins and blood vessels that tumors need to thrive. While chemotherapy brings with it unpleasant and often serious side effects, Temsirolimus and Sutent don’t.

These new drugs also help patients with very advanced kidney cancer live longer. The drugs lengthened survival times for patients with advanced cancer from five months up to 11 months, and with a better quality of life – They did not experience the draining side effects of chemotherapy.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today