Sorafenib for the management of advanced renal cell carcinoma

The approval of sorafenib (Nexavar (R)) launched a new era of targeted therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Sorafenib was the first oral multikinase inhibitor available for use in RCC, demonstrating a significant clinical benefit for patients living with this disease in the Phase III Treatment Approaches in Renal Cancer Global Evaluation Trial (TARGET). As other targeted agents have emerged and expanded options for patients with RCC, understanding the optimal role of targeted therapies in different treatment settings has become more important. This article reviews the expansive clinical evidence supporting the use of sorafenib in RCC, including analyses across a variety of subpopulations, and examines the impact of sorafenib on clinical practice and its future role in RCC.