Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in metastatic renal cell cancer: latest results and clinical implications

Abstract

Metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) accounts for 25–30% of patients with renal cell cancer at presentation. In addition to this, a significant proportion of patients with localized disease at presentation will develop metastatic disease. With the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the treatment of mRCC has been radically altered. Several newer generation vascular endothelial growth factor receptor TKIs have been tested in the clinical setting over recent years, resulting in the availability of more drugs. We review the latest results from clinical trials and the implications these have on the management of patients with mRCC.