A recent literature review and network meta-analysis of phase 2/3 randomised, controlled clinical trials of approved first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) involving more than 4,200 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has shown that cabozantinib, sunitinib, pazopanib, and tivozanib have similar efficacy, but tivozanib’s safety profile is superior to the profiles of the other three TKI drugs.

The results of this literature review were published in the journal Advances in Therapy. Tivozanib is currently approved for the treatment of metastatic RCC in the UK, but is not currently approved for use for this indication in the United States.

However, a clinician not involved in the research said that “the statement about toxicity may not reflect a true difference between the drugs and it might be simply as a result of improved clinical skills of treating physicians and better knowledge and management of expected toxicities.”

Read more in Cancer Therapy Advisor here