Sutent Drug for Kidney Cancer [2025 Guide]

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Sutent is an oral medication that doctors prescribe to treat a type of kidney cancer called renal cell carcinoma. Sutent has been available in the U.S. for almost 20 years. Doctors prescribe Sutent for some patients who have advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Oncologists may recommend Sutent as the first treatment option that their patients try. Or, they may suggest patients try surgery or immunotherapy drugs before using Sutent.

In this article, you will find information about Sutent’s uses, its success rates, how it compares to other treatments, side effects, and who takes it. You can also learn about some of the causes of kidney cancer.

About the Sutent Drug for Kidney Cancer:

What Is Sutent for Kidney Cancer?

Sutent, which is produced by Pfizer, is a medication that helps stop or slow the growth of tumors. Sutent (also known by its generic form, sunitinib) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that changes the signals unhealthy cells receive about when to grow, divide, and talk to each other. In January 2006, the FDA approved Sutent to treat kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma), tumors of the pancreas and endocrine system, and cancer in the digestive tract (gastrointestinal stromal tumors).

How Does Sutent Work to Treat Kidney Cancer?

The active ingredients in Sutent block signals that tell cancer cells to grow or start accessing blood supplies. One of the proteins involved in this process is called a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Tumors that increase in size and have their own supply of blood can grow quickly and spread to other areas of the body (metastasize). Sutent aims to slow or stop this process by interrupting these signals from the source.

In contrast with drugs like Opdivo, Sutent is not an immunotherapy drug. Opdivo activates the body’s immune system in different ways to help it ward off cancer on its own, often after other interventions have failed. Sutent is classified as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and an angiogenesis inhibitor. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors tell cells not to multiply, and angiogenesis inhibitors tell cells not to grow new blood supplies.

When Is Sutent Prescribed for Kidney Cancer Patients?

Doctors may recommend Sutent to patients in several different scenarios. Patients may start taking Sutent immediately if they have advanced kidney cancer or if their cancer has spread. Sutent may also be an option if other treatments (like surgery) were unsuccessful.

Advanced or Metastatic RCC

Doctors may turn to Sutent as a first-line treatment for renal cell carcinoma in its advanced stages. Studies have shown that Sutent can be very effective at increasing patients’ progression-free survival rates compared to interferon-alpha drugs, which are used to treat some cancers. Sutent may be recommended in cases where the renal cell carcinoma is advanced or has metastasized (spread) or where immunotherapy is not an option.

Adjuvant Therapy After Surgery

Sutent is also a drug of choice for some patients after they receive another treatment to remove or reduce the size of their kidney tumors. For example, Sutent may be an adjuvant (additional) treatment option for patients who have had a kidney removed (nephrectomy) and need more therapies to fight the remaining tumors. Sutent may also be used to help patients get and stay in long-term remission, because it slows or stops cancer cell growth.

How Effective Is Sutent for Kidney Cancer?

Multiple studies show that Sutent can be very effective at helping patients fight kidney cancer and stay in remission. When compared with some other medications, Sutent has also been praised for its track record of keeping kidney cancer patients alive longer without their tumors progressing.

Survival Rates and Progression-Free Data

In the S-TRAC clinical trials of Sunitinib (Sutent), patients taking this drug had “significantly longer” survival rates where their cancer improved or did not worsen compared to placebo groups. This clinical trial included patients who had advanced renal cell carcinomas and who had a kidney removed because of it. The Sutent group’s progression-free survival rate was about 6.8 years. In contrast, the placebo group’s average rate was 5.6 years.

Real-World Use and Long-Term Outcomes

Studies have also shown that patients taking Sutent as prescribed may experience a complete response to treatment up to 10 or more years after starting it. Because Sutent works to keep cancer cells from growing, many find it helpful for staying in remission and staying alive longer without their cancer worsening. Some patients may find it hard to tolerate the medication when they first start it; however, their doctors can sometimes adjust the dosage to a tolerable level.

Sutent Compared to Other Kidney Cancer Treatments

Sutent is one of the many different types of treatments for kidney cancer. For some patients, immunotherapy (like Opdivo) or other types of targeted drugs (such as cabozantinib) may be more appropriate. Sutent has been on the market for almost 20 years, and as new drugs have been developed, those drugs may have better results. Patients should talk to their doctors about what options are available to them.

Sutent vs. Immunotherapy (e.g., Opdivo, Keytruda)

In some patients with advanced-stage kidney cancer, immunotherapy treatments may be more effective. For example, an eight-year study showed that a combination of Opdivo and Yervoy had longer survival rates overall than Sutent alone. Drugs like Opdivo help the patient’s immune system know the difference between cancerous and healthy cells. However, doctors may still decide that the pros outweigh the potential cons of a patient taking Sutent versus another treatment.

Sutent vs. Other TKIs (e.g., Pazopanib, Cabozantinib)

Some clinical trials showed that other tyrosine kinase inhibitors (like cabozantinib) were more effective at helping patients stay alive longer without their cancer getting worse. However, patients may experience increased or different side effects depending on how their bodies respond to the medications. The patient’s care team will work with them to find a treatment strategy that balances the possible benefits with the risks or impacts on the patient’s quality of life.

Side Effects of Sutent in Kidney Cancer

While Sutent may be beneficial for many patients, it can also cause a range of side effects, especially because of how the medication works in the person’s body. Some of the complications people may experience after taking Sutent include:

• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or lack of appetite
• Blisters
• Mouth pain
• Changes in taste, hair, or skin
• Increased blood pressure (hypertension)

People may also experience less-common but severe side effects, such as:

• Severe liver problems
• Heart problems, including an abnormal heart rate
• Tumor lysis syndrome, where the body breaks down the cancer cells quicker than the liver can process them
• Brain changes
• Thyroid issues
• Harm to the patient’s unborn baby
• Issues with the person’s blood not clotting as it should

According to one long-term safety study, patients were more likely to experience treatment-related complications within the first two years of starting Sutent. The patient’s doctors will check in with them regularly to see how their body is reacting to the medication. Patients are also encouraged to track their symptoms and changes with their body, senses, thinking, strength, or coordination after they start Sutent.

Who Can Take Sutent for Kidney Cancer?

Sutent is one of the recommended options for patients who have advanced, high-risk renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer). It may also be appropriate for patients when their cancer has spread or metastasized to other locations. However, Sutent may not be right for some people, such as those who have autoimmune issues or problems with their liver, heart, or blood pressure.

Sutent Costs and How Insurance Works

Sutent can be expensive, with some estimates pricing the drug at just under $250 per 12.5 mg capsule. However, patients can use manufacturer coupons, discount programs, and other financial assistance options to reduce the cost. Many private and public insurance providers will cover Sutent if it is taken as prescribed by a doctor for FDA-approved uses. The Pfizer Oncology Together’s copay assistance program also helps people pay for Sutent if they meet the eligibility criteria.

King Law Is Investigating Cases for Kidney Cancer Patients Taking Sutent

The King Law team is investigating cases involving kidney cancer. If you have kidney cancer, you may be wondering why you developed this disease. There are many causes of kidney cancer. One of those causes is exposure to chemicals called PFAS, which are in about 45% of Americans’ tap water and in water supplies on military bases around the country.

These chemicals, known as PFAS (or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are in public water and well water throughout the United States. In particular, PFAS has been found in the water supplies around manufacturing facilities and military bases.

For example, reports show that several of W.L. Gore’s plants have been leaking PFAS into the water around Elkton, Maryland. For decades, military bases around the country used aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) to put out liquid fuel fires. Some bases still use AFFF, despite its known hazards and many bans put in place at the state and federal levels.

AFFF contains PFAS, which have been linked to diseases, including kidney cancer. King Law is helping people determine if their kidney cancer diagnosis stems from exposure to forever chemicals in their drinking water. The team is also assisting people by filing lawsuits against companies such as 3M, which have made products that have contaminated water sources across the country.

Contact King Law’s Legal Team Today

If you or a loved one developed kidney cancer and believe chemical exposure is to blame, you may be able to file a lawsuit against chemical manufacturers. We can talk to you about your possible PFAS exposure, such as your work as a firefighter or military member, or your drinking water contaminated with PFAS.

King Law provides free, no-obligation case reviews, and we have a dedicated intake team standing by to take your call. You can reach us by dialing (585) 496-2648 or filling out our online contact sheet to get started today.

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