I am wondering what is the longest time anyone has known sutent to be effective? I am aware that sutent seems to stop working for all patients eventually, and am trying to prepare the family for having to look at alternative options.
My dad has rcc, had a radical nephrectomy in '02, at age 51, with success. He seemed tumor-free until Nov/ Dec. 06, when a few rcc tumors were found in his lungs. In Jan. 07 he started the Sutent 50mg, 3wk on/1wk off regimen. His platelets bottomed out, so he was changed to the 37.5 mg, 3wk on/1wk off. In early summer 07, his MD changed him to a continuous course of sutent, 37.5mg every single day, which he is still on. He has had good response to the sutent, with shrinkage in all the tumors, and while some of the tumors have now stopped shrinking, the sutent seems to be preventing any growth. His side effects have been minimal, with some altered taste, occasional foot pain, and mild elevation in BP. He feels fine and continues to work fulltime and lives life as usual. He has remained upbeat and positive during this whole experience.
The suggestion of surgery to remove one of his lungs(that has a tumor at the main stem bronchus) while the tumor is small came up recently. After a tumor board discussed this, it was decided that he should wait on this option, since it would not remove all the tumors he has (since there are tumors in the other lung too) and since the tumors are currently controlled and causing him no problems with his breathing or daily functions. We are hoping the sutent will continue to work for him for at least several more months to a year, and know some new options are coming out, but want to be prepared to have to make new treatment decisions.