Sorafenib

Sorafenib is a small molecule inhibitor of several kinases involved in tumour proliferation and tumour angiogenesis including Raf, VEGFR and platelet derived growth factor receptor. In vivo Raf kinase inhibition has been observed in pharmacodynamic studies. Sorafenib is one of several VEGF-targeting compounds with recently demonstrated substantial anti-tumour effects in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Delay in time to disease progression has been demonstrated in cytokine-refractory metastatic renal cell carcinoma, and further investigation is ongoing in a wide variety of tumour types. Sorafenib is well tolerated, with common toxicities including rash, diarrhoea, hand-foot skin reaction, fatigue and hypertension, when administered as the standard dose of 400 mg b.i.d.