Combination therapy with S-1 plus sorafenib is effective and tolerable as treatment for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, a new study published online ahead of print in the journal Annals of Oncology has shown.

For the single-arm, open-label, phase 1/2 study, researchers sought to evaluate the clinical activity, safety, tolerance, and pharmacokinetics of S-1 plus sorafenib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Researchers enrolled nine patients into phase 1 and 21 patients into phase 2. Of those 21, six had received the recommended dose in phase 1. All participants were diagnosed with clear-cell or papillary renal cell carcinoma who had received no more than one prior cytokine-based regimen.

The recommended dose of therapy was S-1 80 mg/m²/day on days 1 to 28 with sorafenib 800 mg/day on days 1 to 42.

Results showed that among the 21 evaluable patients in phase 2, the confirmed overall response rate was 52% (95% CI: 29.8, 74.3). One patient achieved a complete response and 10 patients achieved partial responses.

Researchers found that median progression-free survival was 9.9 months (95% CI: 6.5, 17.1).

In regard to safety, all patients experienced treatment-related hand-foot skin reactions, which resulted in dose reductions in 38% of patients.

The findings suggest that although S-1 and sorafenib combination therapy appears to be effective and tolerable for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, skin event management is necessary for patients receiving this therapy.

Reference

1. Naito S, Sakai H, Hashine K, et al. Phase 1/2 study of S-1 in combination with sorafenib for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.Ann Oncol. 2015. [epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdv280.

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Union minister and BJP leader Sanjeev Balyan on Monday demanded a probe into allegations of arrangements being made for a dog to undergo dialysis at West Bengal's government-run SSKM Hospital.

Pradip Mitra, who was recently transferred from the post of SSKM director, claimed he was handed over marching orders for stopping the dialysis of a dog at the premier hospital on June 10.

The dog was allegedly sent for treatment by Trinamool Congress leader Nirmal Majhi, who heads the state medical council.

Terming his transfer to the College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital as an "insult", Mitra applied for voluntary retirement and also threatened to move court.

"If an order for a dog's dialysis was really made, then it is very unfortunate. The matter must be probed and strict action taken against those found guilty," said Balyan, the union minister of state for agriculture.

During the day, BJP leader Locket Chatterjee also submitted a memorandum to new SSKM director Manju Banerjee seeking details about the incident.

"People have the right to know the truth. Who ordered the arrangements for the dog's dialysis and at whose insistence? The hospital must come clean on this. An independent probe into the matter is imperative," Chatterjee, who is also a famed Bengali actress, told media persons.

Trinamool legislator Majhi has repeatedly denied the allegations and accused the media of defaming him.

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